Moore Miscue Makes Matta Mad

Foul failure finalizes Fran’s fairytale

The MAAC conference Siena Saints were dancing in Dayton during a double-overtime defeat of Ohio State. The number 9 seeded Saints forced an extra session against the Buckeyes and won the game in front of a heavily-favored Ohio crowd. OSU is the better team and should have beat Siena, but that is why the games are played. This one went down to the wire. Buckeye head coach, Thad Matta, was puzzled by his team’s failure to foul Siena’s Ronald Moore before the tying shot in regulation.
The dazzling darlings of the Big Dance last year were the Saints as they knocked off Vanderbuilt in an upset. Siena strategy seemed to operate well again this March. Last night, the clutch performer, Moore, delivered the goods and sent Siena into the next round against the best team in the country, Louisville. The 3 point shot with 3.9 seconds left in the second overtime was the defining basket for Fran McCaffery’s underdog team. Moore hit a similar shot to send the game into the second overtime. Ohio State lost 72-74 and takes an early exit and another loss for the Big 10. Michigan, Purdue, Wisconsin and Michigan State represent the conference now. The Badgers were bailed out in another late night overtime thriller against fifth-seeded, Florida State.
The Buckeyes’ leading scorer, Evan Turner, missed his final shot from 15 feet that would have sent the game into a third overtime. Siena carelessly committed 22 turnovers and looked like they were going to suffer a lopsided loss early in the game. The ouster of OSU came as a surprise because the Saints overcame an 11 point Buckeye lead in the second half of regulation. McCaffery commended his team’s defense and gutsy play, especially the offensive rebounding. Siena ended the game with 23 overall. Ohio State fans outnumbered Siena by thousands, but it mattered little to Moore and his motivated pals. Edwin Ubiles, Kenny Hasbrouck and Moore led the Saints, while Turner, P.J. Hill, and William Buford starred for Ohio State. B.J. Mullens scored 10 points, coming in off the bench for Matta. The Buckeyes did not make their three point shots and it came back to haunt them in the end. Guard, Jon Diebler missed 9 of 11 attempts from the three point line. The Buckyes held a close 65-62 lead at the end of the fourth quarter thanks to two Hill free throws. But, Moore drove hard against the defense and nailed a three pointer with 9.1 ticks on the clock. Diebler missed a free throw before the final horn and overtime one was established.
Ryan Rossiter scored 16 points with 15 rebounds in an underrated performance for Siena. Ryan grabbed 5 of Siena’s 14 first-half rebounds. The scrappy Saints were the veteran-laden team last night because OSU lacks a single senior on the starting squad. The game got away from the Bucks despite Turner doing all he could for the young team. Ohio State came into the NCAA tournament field of 65 with a loss to Purdue in the Big 10 championship game. They were the heralded and well-respected powerhouse coached by Matta but many were thinking upset against the heart-filled Siena Saints. Ohio State could not put the game away, thus suffered a very disheartening loss at the hands of a less talented team. The Saints were successful in slowing down the Buckeyes and going on important runs when the game was on the line.
I’ve visited the picturesque, beautiful Siena campus in Albany. I’m happy for McCaffery because he deserves more recognition than he receives. Siena seems to find a way to beat tougher teams when the pressure is on. The small school from upstate NY took down the monster Matta Buckeyes by simple enacting a game plan that confused the men wearing scarlet and gray. Many times the second round games are not as compelling when Cinderella teams advance. I cannot see Siena winning against Louisville because Rick Pintino’s Cardinals are entirely different beast. However, I do believe the Saints will be prepared to play and give the Cardinals a good game from beginning to end. Will Siena bust some brackets tomorrow? Most likely not, but it’s fun to pretend.

Parting points: A song for Hasbrouck- “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth