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

LOUDONVILLE - Jimmy Patsos balked at the fact that his team played well for just the early portion of Friday's 74-62 season-opening loss against the University at Albany.

Starting three freshmen and having a fourth as the team's leading scorer, he may be correct.

“We played well in the game for having four freshmen," said Patsos, on Monday, before practice and the team's departure north to Vermont.

There were more than 11,000 people in the crowd and yet, none of the freshmen seemed fazed in the slightest.

“It was intense the whole game," said point guard Marquis Wright. "A lot of people — bright lights, but I don’t think it affected us any."

Mike McMahon/The Record

Wright and the Saints jumped out to a 16-point lead in the first half, riding the energy from the crowd and the emotion of starting a new era, with coach Patsos.

“We just have to keep it that way ­— play that way the whole game," Wright said. "I’d say we didn’t play as well the last 10 minutes, but it’s all going to come.”

Wright, who was named a captain, something very rare for a freshman, scored eight points and finished and five rebounds, with six assists against just three turnovers in 34 minutes of action. 

“I think I did well for my first college game," he said. "It can always get better — cutting down turnovers and helping my team more.”

Maurice White (left) scored 17 points to lead the team in scoring, off of the bench, a place he may not be too much longer, Patsos indicated on Monday.

"I think I played really well," said White, who was dealing with a groin issue and wasn't sure how much time he would see.

White ended up playing 26 minutes and grabbing six rebounds. White also became the first freshman to lead the team in scoring since Alex Franklin (20 points) did so, against Stanford on Nov. 11, 2006.

In total, the freshmen scored 42 of the team's 62 points, but it wasn't enough. 

“We played hard," Wright said. "We just came up short.”

The incoming class for the Siena men's basketball team got even bigger on Friday.

The Saints have added Maurice White, a 6-foot-3, 197-pound guard from Baltimore.

White joins Lavon Long, Javion Ogunyemi, Michael Wolfe, Marquis Wright, transfer Patrick Cole and walk-ons Mike Wilson and Jimmy Merrill for new coach Jimmy Patsos. 

Here is the Siena release.

Here is the full schedule for the Saints.