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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- When Tariq Kirksay went down midway through
the first half of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
championship game and had to be carried off the court, Iona knew it
was in trouble.
Not only were the second-seed Gaels losing the MAAC Player of
the Year, they were also losing 22 points and nine rebounds a game,
their team captain and leader in most offensive categories. And
they were losing him with 30 minutes left against the top-seeded
Saints (23-8), who lost only once on their home court this season.
|  | | Iona's Dyree Wilson jams for two of his game-high 27 points against Siena. |
"I was really worried about Tariq," said Dyree Wilson. "I
knew he wasn't moving. But coach said if you want to do something
for Tariq, then win this game."
So Wilson, a sophomore who averaged 14 points during the regular
season, stepped up and scored a game-high 27 on 12-for-17 shooting.
"I play basketball, I'm a basketball player," he said after
the Gaels won 84-80 to grab an NCAA Tournament berth.
"I went down pretty hard, and I thought I got to get back up and
play. But the doctors told me to stay down, take it slow," Kirksay
said of the injury as he drove to the basket with 9:08 left in the
first half. He was called for an offensive foul.
Kirksay said team doctors talked about taking him to the
hospital after he was carried into the locker room.
"I was not going to the hospital, because I knew if I did I was
not coming back," Kirksay said.
He returned to the Iona bench about seven minutes into the
second half and checked into the game with 7:48 left with the Gaels
on top by seven.
"I told him I'd let him in, but would take him out the very
second I saw he wasn't OK," Iona coach Jeff Ruland said.
Kirksay finished with four points in 19 minutes.
Iona (20-10) led 76-66 with 3:54 remaining. Siena battled back
to trail by four with 2:10 remaining after a jump shot by Jim
Cantamessa, who finished with 18 points.
But the Saints would get no closer. The Gaels hit 6 of 9 free
throws in the closing minutes and Siena missed several shots.
The Saints were up 24-22 when Kirksay went down. The teams
traded baskets until halftime, but strong defense kept both on the
outside instead of driving for the basket. The Saints shot 17
3-pointers in the first half, making seven, and went 10-for-32 for
the game.
Iona began penetrating the Siena defense in the second half and
Siena had trouble holding onto the ball. The Saints finished with
17 turnovers.
Iona took the lead, 43-41, less than two minutes into the second
half and led 57-45 with 14:15 left. Kirksay's free throw with 7:48
to go put the Gaels on top 68-60.
The Saints had a chance to close within three points with 1:40
left, but Dwayne Archbold's shot spun around the rim and skipped
out. After an offensive rebound, Corey Osinksi's shot also missed.
Down 80-74 with 34 seconds left, Cantamessa's 3-point shot was
blocked by Kirksay, who was fouled and made two free throws to put
the game away.
Nakiea Miller scored 15 points for Iona and had a game-high nine
rebounds. Ivo Kresta had 14 points and Phil Grant added 12.
Marcus Faison scored 17 points for Siena on an off-night, going
6-for-13. Archbold had 13 and Scott Knapp added 12.
"This is bitter, a very bitter pill," said Siena coach Paul
Hewitt.
The teams split their regular-season series, with Iona winning
in overtime 96-92 and Siena winning 94-89.
"I kept waiting for our run to come, but we couldn't stop
them," Osinski said of the loss. "They kept making shots."
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Iona Clubhouse
Siena Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Iona's Jason Young fakes and then hits the three.
avi: 525 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
The Gaels' Dyree Wilson just can't miss.
avi: 1003 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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