Siena MBB gets overtime thriller in home opener, Gerry McNamara's debut

Albany, NY – Well, it's hard to believe, but college basketball season is here and with it a new era of Siena men's basketball. On Monday night, Gerry McNamara made his head coaching debut for the Saints in their home opener against Ivy League side Brown University.

All summer and offseason we heard that GMac had come to the Capital Region to win at all costs and change Siena's culture. The only remaining question was how long it would take for this to be seen in their on-field product.

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Over a dozen new faces for the Saints, an entirely new coaching staff, this team is certainly a work in progress, but Siena showed their new side early and dominated on offense.

Enter Brendan Coyle, a returner and deadly sharpshooter, Coyle with a three-pointer and the Saints' first points of the season. Then it was the transfer guards who got to work. Major Freeman, pure middle class, Freeman finished with 18 points. Moments later, Justice Shoats scored another transfer goal. Shoats led all scorers with 23 points, and Siena had an early lead of ten.

Brown then made a run of his own. Kino Lilly Jr. throws the three balls to the ground. Then, on their next possession, Lilly Jr. showed off his ball-handling skills and scored again from distance, giving the Bears the lead. After a back-and-forth first half, Brown would lead 34-32 at halftime.

The Bears increased their lead in the second period, but Siena didn't go down without a fight. The hero of the night: Brendan Coyle, three free throws with two seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Then Freeman would line it up in OT.

There's no better way to script it: Siena wins an overtime thriller 72-71 in GMac's debut. The win ended an 11-game home defeat. The Saints are back in action at Bryant on Friday.