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?

Here is a link to the game preview that ran in Wednesday's paper.

For a refresher, here is a link to the game story from last year's 82-78 UMass victory, in Springfield, Mass. 

Here are some other links to stories about the game, coming from the UMass perspective.

UMass men's basketball returns to action against Siena - Daily Hampshire Gazette

UMass basketball hopes to have cured its problems over 10-day break - masslive.com

Well-rested Minutemen head to Siena - The Daily Collegian

Siena senior O.D. Anosike talks about the upcoming game against UMass, and insists that there is no panic amongst the team, despite the 2-4 start.

Siena freshman point guard Evan Hymes leaps out of the gym to block this shot.

Here is the postgame reaction from Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro, O.D. Anosike and Kyle Downey

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Siena men's basketball team played well on Friday evening, the University of Massachusetts was just a little bit better.

The Saints had an 11-point lead in the second half, but the Minutemen had enough down the stretch.

Led by Chaz Williams' driving ability, UMass got the lead and held on down the stretch.

The Saints (3-6) got a game-high 23 points from Kyle Downey. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Downey and Owen Wignot put Siena up 49-38, with 16:45 to play in the game.

Williams, who finished with 22 points, 20 of which came in the second half, put the Minutemen (8-3) on his back down the stretch.

O.D. Anosike registered his fifth-straight double-double, with 22 points and 14 rebounds,  but missed a potential game-tying free throw 25 seconds to play.

Evan Hymes added 16 points and seven assists, while turning the ball over just once against UMass' full-court pressure defense.

Siena is back on the homecourt, on Monday, when they host Fordham.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Siena is playing a very good game right now.

They are slicing up the UMass defense with precision passes and that's why they have a 41-35 halftime lead at the MassMutual Center.

The Saints are shooting 45.7 percent (16-35) from the floor and has just six turnovers against UMass' fullcourt pressure defense. 

Kyle Downey has 14 points for Siena, to lead all scorers, while O.D. Anosike added 10.

The Minutemen were led by Freddie Riley, who actually kept UMass in the game, with three 3-pointers. Riley has 11 points. 

UMass actually had more turnovers (7) and only outrebounded Siena 24-23 in the first half. On top of that, the Saints have 24 points in the paint.

Jeff Couch/The Record

Siena takes on the University of Massachusetts, in the birthplace of basketball -- Springfield, Mass., on Friday evening.

That is one of four games that make up the Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase.

Here is Friday's schedule for games at the MassMutual Center.

3 p.m. - Philadelphia U. vs. AIC (Division II)

5 p.m. - Springfield vs. Trinity (Division III)

7 p,m. - Siena vs. UMass

9 p.m. - Fairfield vs. Old Dominion

This venue is the new home of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championships, from 2012-14. This game could give Siena an advantage of playing a game on the court that they will be on in March.

The University at Albany football team is receiving votes in both the FCS Coaches' and The Sports Network's Top 25 pools.

The Great Danes (5-0, 6-2) are No. 32 if you string out the teams in The Sports Network's poll.

UAlbany would have a better chance at being ranked if Georgia Southern (4-4) and UMass (4-3), the two teams that beat the Great Danes had better records and if Maine (3-4), who was ranked when they played at University Field, wasn't having a disappointing season.

(USA Today)

Either way, UAlbany has another shot to make a statement when they play their toughest conference opponent, Central Connecticut State (4-0, 6-1), on the road this Saturday at 12 p.m.

Remember, the Great Danes have won 18 straight Northeast Conference games.