McNamara era at Siena starts with thrilling, overtime win against Brown

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The start of the Gerry McNamara Era is off to an exciting start. Siena men's basketball rallied from a five-point deficit in the final minute of regulation, and dug their heels in during overtime, to sneak past Brown 72-71 in a thrilling season-opening victory at MVP Arena.

Newcomer Justice Shoats came off the bench to post game-highs of 23 points and four steals to make McNamara, the Syracuse legend and 2003 National Champion, a winner in his head coaching debut. Preseason Second Team All-MAAC selection Major Freeman added 18 points for Siena which has now won five of its past six season-openers.

Reigning Ivy League scoring champion Kino Lilly, Jr. led four Brown players in double figures with 18 points, while Aaron Cooley posted a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds.

Things couldn’t have started much better for the Saints who rattled off 10 straight points to claim a quick 15-5 lead less than six minutes in. But the Bears responded with the next 13 and it was game on from there. In an evenly played contest which featured 13 lead changes and 10 ties, Lilly beat the halftime buzzer to give Brown a 34-32 lead at the break.  

Siena went on a 14-2 run to reclaim as much as an eight-point advantage at 48-40 with 9:53 remaining. But the Bears, who opened the second half 2-12 from the field, connected on 10 of their ensuing 11 shots to forge back ahead 60-56 with 2:26 left.

Brown pushed the lead to five with 62 seconds to go, but a Shoats layup on the ensuing possession and a key defensive stand gave the Saints a chance. Brendan Coyle was fouled while attempting the potential game-tying three with two seconds remaining, and the captain calmly connected on all three clutch free throws to knot the game at 64 and send Siena to its first season-opening overtime contest since the 2017 lid-lifter at College of Charleston.

In the extra session, Shoats drove and dished out his lone assist of the evening to Myles Wilmoth who scored the decisive basket with 45 seconds left. The Bears had one final shot, but Shoats heavily contested a tough baseline jumper by Lilly which was well off the mark.

Coyle joined Shoats and Freeman in double figures with 15 points for the Saints who improved to a stellar 63-21 (.750) all-time in home-openers. Coyle finished 6-7 from the charity stripe for Siena which shot 19-28 from the free throw line, compared to just 8-13 for the Bears in a one-point final.

The Saints will seek to build upon their season-opening triumph when they travel to Bryant Friday night for a 7 p.m. tilt in Rhode Island.