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

The Siena men's basketball team is counting a lot on its new faces and new coach Jimmy Patsos, who are trying to get the program back in the right direction.

Here is a story from Wednesday's paper (right) on freshman Marquis Wright, who was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Maryland, last season as a senior at North Point.

Wright is expected to start at point guard for the Saints, when the season begins on Nov. 8, against crosstown rival the University at Albany.

Also of note, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference released its preseason third team on Wednesday. Siena junior Rob Poole was one of the five players mentioned.

"It's no secret, Rob's going to be a huge key for us," coach Jimmy Patsos said in a release from the school. "He took a big step in Montreal. I think he has the ability to be one of the top players in the league."

The other four players were Chris Manhertz (Canisius), Maurice Barrow (Fairfield), Emmy Anduar (Manhattan) and Ike Azotam (Quinnipiac).

The MAAC will release its second team on Thursday and the preseason first team on Friday.

Mike McMahon/The Record

J.S. Carras/The Record

ALBANY - Rob Poole has struggled mightily the past two games for Siena.

The sophomore guard, who seemed to be a rising star in the league, has now scored three points total in the past two games.

“I think in the second half of the conference (schedule), they have him pretty well scouted now," said Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro.

The Saints did try to run some things for Poole, but it didn't work as he finished 0-2 from the floor and sat out for nearly the game's final 14 minutes, along with senior O.D. Anosike.

“I just have to be more aggressive I think," he said, following the 80-57 loss to Loyola (Md.), in the locker room.

Poole noticed that teams were guarding him differently when the Saints made the Buffalo trip, back in mid-January.

“I need to expand my game, get stronger, I guess and just try to get better," he said. 

Poole is still a very solid player, as evidenced by opposing coach Jimmy Patsos' postgame comments.

“Poole's a really good player, but Bobby (Robert Olson) did a great job defending him," said Patsos. 

Olson scored 20 points and knocked down four 3-pointers and is one of the top veteran guards in the league, which is one day where Poole could be.

“Our Bobby Olson is Poole," said Patsos. 

When Poole was told of the comparison, he seemed to appreciate it. 

“I'll be honest, I hate playing against him," Poole said. "But he's a good player.”

Siena sophomore Rob Poole talks about his return to the court after missing four games with the flu and the team's next game against Niagara.

Siena sophomore Rob Poole talks about the team's struggles and what they have to do to be successful in the first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game against Rider.

ALBANY - The University at Albany is currently the kings of the Capital District.

Just hours after the women's team defeated Siena handily, 65-48, the men's team came out and led for the entire second half on the way to a 69-56 win.

The Great Danes have now won two of the last three matchups, while the women's team has won three straight over Siena.

Mike Black scored 13 points, all of which came in the second half, while Jacob Iati added 13 of his own points for the Great Danes (6-2).

Rob Poole scored a game-high 19 points for the Saints (2-6).

Siena takes on St. Bonaventure on Tuesday, while UAlbany hosts St. Francis (NY) on Wednesday evening.

ALBANY - Nothing has come easy for the Siena men's basketball team this season.

The Saints took advantage of everything that was free in Tuesday's 70-64 victory over Manhattan.

Siena shot 25-for-30 (83.3%) from the free throw line and 22-for-24 (91.7%) in the second half, as they held on for the win.

Rob Poole made 10 free throws (10-13) and OD Anosike knocked down eight (8-9) on the night.

"Coach has been harping on it all year," Anosike said. "Sometimes when you struggle from the outside, you have to find ways to manufacture points, whether it be offensive rebounds or free throws."

Anosike is just a 55 percent (81-146) shooter from the stripe, but he has been much better lately.

In the last four games, Anosike is 20-for-25 (80%) from the free throw line. 

In Tuesday's game, it seemed like Anosike was using his legs more and springing backwards as he released the ball.

"Maybe the arc is the key," he said. "I think I was shooting the ball higher today, getting it over the front rim."

Anosike also says that he's been shooting the ball better as he has maintained confidence in his shot.

"I'm just trying to stay confident," he said. "I seem to shoot it better when I have more confidence."

Anosike knows that it will continue to be important that Siena knock down the free throws on a consistent basis. 

"It's just really important that we step up and knock down free throws because we're going to need the points, especially down the stretch," he said.

Jackie Schear/For The Record

Here is a link to Sunday's game story, won by Rider of Siena, filed by Kyle Franko, a writer at our sister paper, The Trentonian.

Also making news for Siena was the fact that OD Anosike was named MAAC Player of the Week, while Rob Poole was named MAAC Rookie of the Week.

Siena will take on Hofstra, of the Colonial Athletic Association, on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m., in an ESPN BracketBusters game.

LOUDONVILLE - Before Thursday's conference-opening game against Saint Peter's, Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro told freshman Rob Poole to stop thinking and start shooting.

Poole responded with his best game to date for the Saints, scoring 11 points on 3-for-6 shooting and also grabbing three rebounds in the 51-44 loss.

Impressively, Poole played 25 minutes, considering he had been dealing with a sinus infection all week.

“I thought he couldn’t have played better,” said Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro. “He played really well."

Poole said he hopes that he can contribute like that for the remainder of the year.

“I feel I can do that every game if my shot is good,” Poole said.

Interestingly, Poole thought he may have played better because the size of the gym was smaller and there weren't too many fans in the stands.

“I think that’s why I felt so comfortable out there playing,” he said.

Poole said his father and uncle came up from the Philadelphia area for the game.

Poole just hopes he can continue making progress and have more games like Thursday evening.

“Hopefully I can do that through the rest of the season to help this team win,” Poole said.

I went over to Siena today to see 2011-12 recruit Rob Poole play with his AAU team Jersey Shore Warriors in the GymRat Challenge.

Poole scored 11 points and showed himself to be a pretty good talent.

At 6-foot-5 he's got size and showed athleticism.

The one thing I would say is that he has good defensive abilities, but didn't move his feet a couple times as players got around him.

He has a nice high-arcing shot and his coach Tony Sagora, who also coached current Siena player Ryan Rossiter, said he is a terrific shooter.

I think he could be a very good Siena player though.

Look for more on Poole in our story tomorrow.