LOUDONVILLE -  The mood in the locker room was one of despair and dejection.

The Siena players sat somewhat in disbelief, not that they had lost to Purdue for the second time in eight days, but how it had happened.

AP

The Saints led the Boilermakers by 16 points in the second half and watched it all slip away, as Purdue scored the game's final nine points to post a 68-63 victory at the Old Spice Classic.

There was plenty of blame to go around, but the Saints were hurting.

Lavon Long and Rob Poole had fouled out before the final media timeout. Brett Bisping and Evan Hymes each had shots late to keep the Saints' lead in tact.

"I was definitely disappointed -- we all were -- because it was definitely a winnable game," said Hymes.

Coach Jimmy Patsos was okay with the loss hurting because he wants the team to start

"That loss hurt," he said. "We could have beaten Purdue. We had a great opportunity to beat a Big Ten team."

Hymes, who matched for team-high honors with 17 points, took the loss especially hard, posting the following tweets not long after the loss and the 0-3 finish at the Old Spice.

So disappointed
— Evan Hymes (@EvanHymes5) December 2, 2013

Completely my fault
— Evan Hymes (@EvanHymes5) December 2, 2013

On Tuesday, coach Jimmy Patsos said this team needs to work better as a "we" and think less about the "me."

"We have to be careful in thinking one player is going to take us out of the situation that's occurred the last few years," he said. "We're doing fine. Organizations win."

Patsos said he spoke with Hymes on Monday about how he likes that he's been solid since being removed from the starting lineup and is helping to lead the younger guys.

"I really respect Evan for handling coming off the bench well," said Patsos.

He also said that he didn't fault Hymes for trying to do something late in the game, even though he would have preferred Hymes didn't try to do it all himself. Patsos also said it certainly wasn't Hymes alone that lost the game.

"No he didn't," Patsos said. "He's trying hard. He made a shot (attempt) to put us ahead."

Patsos said that Athletic Director John D'Argenio told him to plan out the work and then start working the plan.

"No one guy's going to say 'We're back, we're Siena and I did it,'" Patsos said. "It's going to be a 'We did it' and it's going to be a 'We did it', in terms of this great school the 25 years of great tradition and this great community."

Hymes said he spoke with former Siena player Conner Fenlon, when the team was down in Florida. Fenlon was a part of the 2008 team that also lost three games at Olld Spice and was reminding Hymes that team went on to win the league championship.

"That just shows you the MAAC championship is where you want to be and you want to be playing your best coming into March," said Hymes.  

While the team is just 2-7, the Saints have shown flashes that they can make a run come conference time.

"We just have to keep playing hard and playing well together," said junior Rob Poole.

J.S. Carras/The Record

Siena freshman Marquis Wright had a great week last week.

Wright hit a game-winning shot against St. Bonaventure and scored a career-high 12 points against Cornell. On Monday, he was honored as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week.

“For Marquis to get rookie of the week was fantastic," said Siena coach Jimmy Patsos on Tuesday. "It was a great thing. He deserves it.”

Wright is the first Siena player to earn this honor since  Evan Hymes, who won the award four times during the 2011-12 season. Rob Poole also won rookie of the week once that year.

Wright has started all fives games this season for the Saints. The freshman from Maryland is averaging 7.3 points, 5.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds. Wright also only is averaging 2.5 turnovers per game.

“I just have to keep working hard and see if I can earn another one, maybe," said Wright. 

Here is the school's release.

Here is the MAAC's release. 

Here are the past MAAC winners.

Player of the Week
11/25 - Sean Armand, Iona
11/18 - Antoine Mason, Niagara
11/11 -  Michael Alvarado, Manhattan

Rookie of the Week
11/25 - Marquis Wright, Siena
11/18 - Kasim Chandler, Quinnipiac
11/11 - Josh James, Monmouth

LOUDONVILLE - Evan Hymes was removed from the starting lineup after the first game of this season.

Since then, the Siena junior has actually been more productive, as a spark off the bench.

In two games as a reserve, Hymes has averaged 9.5 points per game.

“Evan Hymes is handling coming off the bench well and he continues to take the right steps," Siena coach Jimmy Patsos said on Monday.

In April, Hymes made a decision to leave the Siena program to be closer to his mother, who was having some health issues. He changed his mind later that month and decided to return for his junior year. Now, he says he's fully on board with whatever his coach wants him to do. 

“I’m ready to do whatever Coach Patsos wants me to do," he said.

Hymes and Patsos had discussed starting or potentially coming off the bench and playing more minutes.

“I just want to be on the court," Hymes said. "No matter if it’s starting or if it’s at the end of the game. I just want to be on the court to help my team.”

Following just a 3-point effort against the University at Albany, Patsos has decided to start freshman Maurice White at the two guard position. That meant that four freshmen were in the starting lineup for the first time in the program's history.

Hymes scored eight points against Vermont and followed that up with a 11-point game versus La Salle. More importantly, he's committed just four turnovers in 46 minutes of action since the opener, while dishing out five assists.

“Evan Hymes and Brett Bisping probably made the two biggest strides against La Salle," said Patsos. 

It was a jumper by Hymes, with a La Salle player right in his face and just 7:02 remaining, that looked like it might give the Saints enough for their first win, as it put them up by eight, 66-58.

“Right there, I thought we were going to win this game," said junior Rob Poole, who finished with a game-high 21 points.

Hymes was dealing with an injured wrist in the preseason, which occurred on the team's trip to Montreal.  He's only been back practicing for a few weeks and knows there's still a lot that needs to be done. 

“I just have to keep going, keep improving and keep working," he said. 

While Patsos likes what he sees, he also wants to see more from Hymes, who is one of the few veterans on this team.

“We’re 0-3 and I want to see him continue to take the next steps," said Patsos.

J.S. Carras/The Record

There has been more news coming out of Siena in the past few days. The men's basketball year-end banquet was held on Thursday, in Troy, but it seems like the season continues going right into the spring. 

Here is a link to the story about Gina Castelli, settling in at her new position, as head coach at Le Moyne College.

Here is a link to a story from the Siena banquet and how the roster continues to change at this point in time.

Below is video of new Siena coach Jimmy Patsos.



Below is video of Siena's Evan Hymes.

It seems like a daily occurrence at this point, but more Siena basketball news broke on Saturday.

Ryan Restivo, who writes for Big Apple Buckets, reported that Siena sophomore Evan Hymes will transfer, in an effort to get closer to his North Carolina home and his mother.

Hymes averaged 10.6 points this season and averaged 13.4 points per game as a freshman, in 2011-12. 

Hymes is just the latest Saints player to defect, following Davis Martens, who announced he will graduate and return to Germany.

Hymes' departure means new Siena coach Jimmy Patsos currently has three scholarships to work with.

Patsos was officially named the coach on Wednesday and Martens announced his intentions to not return on Thursday.

On Friday, the school confirmed it will open the 2013-14 season playing against the University at Albany, on Friday, Nov. 8.

J.S. Carras - The Record

Siena sophomore Evan Hymes talks about the team's loss to Niagara on Friday evening.

J.S. Carras - The Record

ALBANY - Evan Hymes hadn't been getting a good look at the basket the past two games.

All it took was one poke to the eye and he had one of his best shooting nights as a Siena player.

Hymes, who had shot 2-for-18 from the field over the past two games, was 8-for-12 on Friday night, as Siena took down Canisius, 57-54, and ended its 11-game losing streak.

“I've been putting in extra shots at practice," Hymes said, following the win. "I know I'm a capable shooter, it's just putting in the extra work and that's what I did and it showed tonight.”

Hymes took a vicious hit to the right eye from Canisius big man Chris Manhertz in the first half and looked like he wouldn't return.

In fact, he contact lens was knocked around in his eye and initially, he thought it had scratched the eyeball. It swelled up instantly and forced him back to the locker room.

After halftime, Hymes returned with an ice bag on his eye and sat out for the first few minutes of the second half.

Once he returned, he got right back into the flow and was a big reason why the Saints came out on top.

“I thought it was his best game of the year,” said Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro. “He could not have played better.”

Hymes hit two very long 3-pointers in the second half and his presence is certainly one of the reasons Siena came out victorious. 

LOUDONVILLE - It sounds simple, but winning makes everything a little bit easier.

The Siena men's basketball team has been close -- but frankly close doesn't cut it.

The Saints (0-4, 2-13) haven't won since Nov. 17, nearly a week before Thanksgiving.

“We need a win," sophomore Evan Hymes said on Thursday. "Everybody knows that. We just have to keep competing every night.”

J.S. Carras - The Record

Siena is 2-7 in games decided by six or less points and they've lost four home games by a combined 12 points. Certainly that's about late-game execution, or lack thereof, but also some bad luck.

“It can be youth, it can be experience, you can point to a lot of things," said Saints coach Mitch Buonaguro. "But certainly we have to get a couple wins here for the team’s confidence level.”

And that's all it'll take -- one win, to get this team back thinking, no believing, that they can win.

In fact, despite an epic losing streak, the program's second longest, the players believe they still can turn things around.

“If we can get two here, at home, we’ll be right back in the mix of things," said senior O.D. Anosike. "We just have to focus on Canisius and really try to get a win.”

The Golden Griffins (3-1, 10-5) are currently in a four-way tie for first in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings, but they haven't finished in the top half of the league's standings since the 1998-99 season.

“The kids have bought in,” said first-year coach Jim Baron. “I think the area has bought in and winning helps. You have to win some games to get them to gel.”

The Saints have taken positive steps, but many times those have been quickly followed by those in the wrong direction.

“All of those good flashes give me confidence that we’re moving in the right direction," Anosike said. "It’s just a matter of putting it together consistently and doing it for 40 minutes.”

Siena sophomore Evan Hymes talks about the team's upcoming game against Canisius.

ALBANY - Another tough loss for the Siena.

Chaz Williams' bank-shot layup with 3.3 seconds to play gave UMass a 64-63 victory on Wednesday evening.

“(Coach Derek Kellogg) left the game in my hands and I had to go make a play,” said Williams, who also burned the Saints last year, scoring 22 points in an 82-78 win.

The loss is the second 1-point defeat at home for Siena (2-5) and the Saints have lost three in a row.

Siena had a 17-point lead in the first half, but watched it evaporate as UMass continued with their pressure defense throughout the game.

O.D. Anosike posted his seventh consecutive double-double, with 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Evan Hymes added 15 points.

Williams finished with a game-high 23 points, while Terrell Vinson added 17 for the Minutemen (3-2).

Siena did announce that sophomore Rakeem Brookins will miss at least one month after reaggravating a back injury, in the game against Maine.

The Saints return to the floor on Saturday, when they host UAlbany, for possession of the Albany Cup.

Below Anosike talks about the loss.

ALBANY - Siena played likely the best half of the season in the first half against UMass.

The Saints made seven 3-pointers, shooting 7-11 (63.6%) from long distance. Evan Hymes has nine points and Rob Poole added eight.

Chaz Williams leads the Minutemen with nine points. He scored his 1,000th career point on a 3-pointer late in the half.

O.D. Anosike finished the half with four points and six rebounds.

Can Siena keep it up in the second half?

ALBANY - It didn't look good when Evan Hymes went down with 12 minutes to play in the season-opener loss to Vermont.

Hymes did come back out on to the floor and said after the game, he was just dealing with a bad cramp in his left calf.

“I should be fine," he said, sitting in the locker room.

Hymes did say that he got cramps last year, in the season-opener against Navy, but this was worse.

“It felt worse because when I tried to get up, I couldn't really move," he said. 

Hymes had to be taken off the floor on a stretcher, but returned with the game in its final stages. He said that he tried to stand up, but just couldn't.

“When they tried to get me up, it went to my foot and then to my thigh," Hymes said. 

He should be okay to play, when the Saints take on Navy, on Sunday.

Siena sophomore Evan Hymes talks about the upcoming 2012-13 season on Media Day at the ARC.

On Tuesday, Siena freshman Evan Hymes was named to the CollegeInsider.com's All-American team.

Hymes had a terrific season for the Saints this year, after being thrust into the starting role once Rakeem Brookins went down with a season-ending injury.

Hymes was one of just 25 freshmen named to the team and one of only three MAAC players joining Marist's Chavaughn Lewis and Niagara's Juan'ya Green. Following the season, Hymes was also named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team.

Siena freshman point guard Evan Hymes talks about earned All-Rookie honors in the MAAC, and also the injury he suffered in the regular season finale.

OD Anosike and Lily Grenci both earned 1st team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference honors, on Monday.

Anosike and Grenci are both in the running for the Player of the Year awards, which will be announced on Thursday evening.

Evan Hymes was named to the All-Rookie team, and he is a candidate for Rookie of the Year.

Cristina Centeno was named to the All-MAAC third team, on the women's side. 


FIRST TEAM ALL-MAAC
Rakim Sanders, Fairfield R-Sr.
Mike Glover, Iona Sr.
Scott Machado, Iona Sr.
Erik Etherly, Loyola Jr.
George Beamon, Manhattan, Jr. 
OD Anosike, Siena Jr.

SECOND TEAM ALL-MAAC 
Harold Washington, Canisius Jr.
Derek Needham, Fairfield Jr. 
Lamont Jones, Iona Jr.
Dylon Cormier, Loyola So.
Brandon Penn, Rider Sr.

THIRD TEAM ALL-MAAC
Justin Drummond, Loyola So.
Robert Olson, Loyola Jr.
Michael Alvarado, Manhattan So.
Devon Price, Marist Jr.
Juan'ya Green, Niagara Fr.
Darius Conley, Saint Peter's Jr.

ALL-ROOKIE
Juan'ya Green, Niagara
Antoine Mason, Niagara
Evan Hymes, Siena
Chavaughn Lewis, Marist
Emmy Andujar, Manhattan

Video of freshman Evan Hymes getting injured in Sunday's victory over Canisius, courtesy of Siena Athletics Department.

J.S. Carras/The Record

ALBANY – The Siena men's basketball team has been anything but super on the road this season.

The Saints have lost their last four games away from the homecourt and are winless in all five league games, outside the city of Albany.

Yet, after dropping a tough 63-58 game to Saint Peter's on Friday, Siena starts a three-game road trip this afternoon, when they take on Fairfield, at 3:30 p.m.

The game can be seen on SNY in the Capital District, for fans who want an appetizer, before Super Bowl XLVI, between the New York Giants and New England Patriots.

The Stags (7-4, 12-10) are coming off of an eight-point victory over Niagara, where junior guard Derek Needham scored a career-high 32 points. Fairfield, which was the No. 2 pick in the preseaon poll, has been inconsistent this season, but the Stags seem to have righted the ship, winning four of their past five games.

The Saints (5-7, 10-12) won the first meeting, 73-60, in Albany, but they know this game will be much more difficult.

“Fairfield's a team that's very good,” said junior forward OD Anosike. “They're definitely in the upper echelon of the league. We got them here, when we played them at home, but it's going to be a much different atmosphere.”

In Friday's loss, Siena really struggled offensively, down the stretch, scoring just 12 points in the game's final 11 minutes and finishing the game 3-for-14 from the field.

“We did take some questionable shots,” said freshman Evan Hymes. “We probably should have got the ball into OD.”

Anosike had his streak of 17 straight double-doubles snapped, finishing with just nine points, his lowest total since Nov. 21, when he scored just four points, against St. Bonaventure.

The Saints are 2-8 away from Albany this season and they must bounce back from a tough home loss to have a solid performance tonight.

“We have a tough game,” said Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro. “We have to move on.”

The players think it could be beneficial to have such a quick turnaround from Friday's disappointment.

“I think it's going to be good to get it out of our system and forget about it,” said senior guard Kyle Downey.

J.S. Carras/The Record

LOUDONVILLE - For all of the bad news Siena fans have received this season, it's possible the new year has brought something positive the Saints' way.

Sophomore Rakeem Brookins was back on the practice floor on Thursday, not ready for live action, but dribbling and shooting.

"It's definitely a step in the right direction," said Brookins, who averaged 9.0 points and 4.3 assists per game last season, as a freshman. "I'm happy to be back and anxious to be playing, but the coaches are babysitting me a lot. I just have to take it one step at a time."

Brookins traveled with the team down to New York, for Tuesday's game against Iona.

"It's great that we have him back, supporting the team," said Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro.

Brookins hopes to be back practicing with the squad, at some point at during the second semester.

"I hope so," he said. "I believe I'll be able to practice with these guys."

Brookins spent much of his time back home, trying to stay busy. He would go watch his friend, Maalik Wayns, play for Villanova or go watch former Siena guard Jonathan Breeden, playing for Division II West Chester, where Brookins' cousin goes to school. .

"It was just different back home," Brookins said.

He still has some therapy sessions to finish and had been rehabbing twice a week at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, but it's been a long road so far.

"It's been frustrating me a lot, especially in the beginning," Brookins said. "It was hard for me. I was watching the guys play and I wanted to be on the court with them so bad."

Brookins did have positive words for the guy who has been filling his spot on the squad, freshman Evan Hymes.

"Hymes is doing a great job and I'm proud of him."

Brookins is eager to return to action, so that he and Hymes can combine for a speedy backcourt.

"It's going to be a very quick and interesting backcourt and I can't wait," he said

As we do when all years come to an end, we look back at the best performances and try to figure out what was the best.

I've covered Siena and UAlbany basketball for five seasons and put together what I think are the Top 10 moments of 2011.

See what you think...and let me know if I'm wrong (I'm not).


10. EVAN HYMES SCORES 30 (Nov. 19)
Siena point guard Evan Hymes has burst onto the scene this season. In just his second game, the diminutive point guard, who is starting because of a season-ending injury to Rakeem Brookins, went off. Hymes scored 30 points in a 65-53 victory that started the Siena 2011-12 season with back-to-back victories. Hymes was 9-for-17 from the floor and 9-for-14 from the free throw line.

9. MIKE BLACK DROPS CAREER-HIGH 26 ON MAINE (Feb. 27)
UAlbany's point guard is known more for distrubuting, but in the season finale last year Black torched Maine for a career-high 26 points in a 81-77 overtime victory. Black hit five 3-pointers, but also finished with five assists in the win, while playing 40 of the 45 minutes in the game.

8. CLARENCE JACKSON COMES OFF BENCH TO LIGHT UP MARIST (Jan. 14)
Clarence Jackson dealt with a long list of injuries during his senior season, but on this night he put the setbacks behind him and gave a clutch performance. Jackson finished with 19 points and hit five 3-pointers at the McCann Center as Siena took down rival Marist 66-59. Jackson finished 5-for-7 from beyond the arc.

7. UALBANY CLOBBERS BINGHAMTON 76-37 (Jan. 20)
The Great Danes and Bearcats have a good rivalry, both being SUNY schools. On this night, UAlbany let their state rivals have it, setting new Division I win margin, winning by 39, 76-37, over Binghamton. Mike Black led four Great Danes in double figures with 15 points. The Bearcats made just 12 field goals and shot 21 percent (12-57) from the floor.

6. ARONHALT & AMBROSE GO 20-20 on UMBC (Jan. 26)

Logan Aronhalt really burst onto the scene last season, overcoming a lot of injuries to have a breakthrough campaign. In this game, Aronhalt lit up University of Maryland-Baltimore Country for 28 points, while senior Tim Ambrose finished with 25 points in the 66-63 victory, down in Baltimore. Aronhalt and Ambrose combined to shoot 19-for-35 (54.3%) from the field in the game.  

5. UALBANY TAKES TALENTS TO MADISON SQUARE GARDEN (Feb. 11)

While this game wasn't a victory for the Great Danes, the UAlbany players got the thrill of a lifetime, as the team took the floor to play at the world's most famous arena. Boston University picked up the 63-44 win, but it's a moment that the Great Danes and Terriers both will remember forever. Tim Ambrose led the way for UAlbany with 13 points. 

4. RYAN ROSSITER BECOMES SIENA'S TOP REBOUNDER (Feb. 7)

Ryan Rossiter broke a lot of records and had a terrific senior season for Siena. On this night, Rossiter only put up 23 points and 20 rebounds in a 76-69 loss to Loyola (Md.). In the process, Rossiter became the Saints all-time leading rebounder, passing Lee Matthews ('93). Rossiter, who ended his career with 1,151 boards, finished with nine offensive rebounds on this night. 

3. GERARDO SUERO DROPS 31 ON SYRACUSE (Nov. 15)

Gerardo Suero really burst onto the scene this season, proving that he is one of the top newcomers in the America East and possibly the country. UAlbany lost on this night to Syracuse, 98-74, but Suero scored a game-high 31 points against the Orange's vaunted zone defense. Suero was 9-for-16 from the floor and 11-for-12 from the free throw line, in just his third game for the Great Danes.

2. O.D. ANOSIKE LETS HIS PLAY DO THE TALKING (Dec. 5)

Siena junior center O.D. Anosike caught the attention of nearly everyone in the Captial District when he said he thought Siena was still the favorite, heading into the Albany Cup matchup. Anosike backed it up, scoring 21 points and grabbing 18 rebounds as the Saints regained the bragging rights with a 64-60 victory. Following the game, Coach Mitch Buonaguro said he hoped Anosike would tweet less, while Anosike who hadn't tweeted the original statement, was just happy with the victory.

1. RYAN ROSSITER GIVES HOMETOWN CROWD ONE LAST THRILL (Feb. 27)

Ryan Rossiter gave the hometown Albany crowd one more thing to cheer about, in the final home game of his career. Rossiter finished with a career-high 34 points and 11 rebounds in a 81-73 victory over Marist. There's not much more you can say about Rossiter, as a week later, he was honored with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year award.

Honorable Mention:

• Ryan Rossiter 26 pts. 15 reb. in victory over Iona – Jan. 3 (Siena 1,000^th win)
• Siena's Jonathan Breeden scores 24 pts vs. Iona in loss – Feb. 11
• UAlbany's Jayson Guerrier 28 pts, 10 reb. vs. Monmouth – Nov. 21
• Gerardo Suero 29 pts. vs. Colgate – Dec. 7
• Ambrose 15 pts 14 reb. 52-50 @ Stony (3^rd double-double, career-high rebounds) - Jan. 17
• Luke Devlin 11 pts & 11 reb. In victory over Hartford – Feb. 5
• Ambrose 22 pts in victory over Stony (past 1,500 career pts) – Feb. 14