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| Maurice Sessoms scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Blue Hens |
4:05 p.m., Dec. 20, 2002--Senior forward Maurice Sessoms came off the bench to score a career-high 21 points and helped the University of Delaware regain its shooting touch from the foul line as the Blue Hens posted an 87-78 non-league men's basketball win over Siena on Saturday, Dec. 21, in Albany, N.Y.
Delaware (4-3) won its second straight game as Mike Slattery, coming off a 15-assist game vs. UNC Greensboro Thursday, recorded his second straight double-double with 17 points and 10 assists and the Hens hit on 24 of 27 free throws for the game, including 11 of 12 in the final two minutes. The Blue Hens took the lead for good with 6:01 left to play as Sessoms and senior guard Ryan Iversen hit consecutive baskets to break a 64-64 tie.
Siena (5-2), which advanced to the NCAA Tournament a year ago after winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference post-season tournament as the No. 7 seed, had a two-game win streak snapped despite 21 points and six assists from guard Prosper Karangwa and 13 points from guard Tommy Mitchell.
Sessoms, one of the team's top free throw shooters, struggled at the line in Thursday's 74-71 win over UNC Greensboro by hitting just 3 of 8 shots. But the senior responded by hitting on 11 of 12 vs. Siena, including three in the final two minutes as the Blue Hens held off the charging Saints. Sessoms also added five rebounds and two blocks.
Delaware shot 54 percent from the field in the second half (14 of 26) and connected on 11 three-pointers, hitting at least five for the 13th straight game. Junior guard Mike Ames added 16 points, including four three-pointers, and freshman guard Rulon Washington added a career-high 10 points. Iversen had eight points and a game-high eight rebounds.
"I'm extremely proud of our guys because we beat a very good team today," said Delaware head coach David Henderson, who will next take his team to the Wisconsin-Green Bay Tournament Dec. 27-28 and will take on Eastern Washington in the opening round. "We really played smart today, especially down the stretch. I could not have asked for a better effort. We played with a purpose and got a great outcome. We hope we can build on this one."
Siena took a 42-39 halftime lead and led for much of the second half, going up by as much as five points inside the eight minute mark. But the Blue Hens stayed close and eventually took the lead for good after Sessoms scored off a rebound for a 66-64 lead then got a big block on the defensive end to set up an Iversen basket with 5:17 left to give the Hens a 68-64 lead.
Karangwa answered with a three-pointer to cut the lead to one, but Sessoms answered with a basket and then Delaware's Washington and Iversen connected on consecutive three-pointers for a 76-69 Blue Hen lead. Washington, who entered the game having connected on just 1 of 20 three-point attempts, connected on two big treys to give the Hens a lift. Iversen played despite back spasms that forced him to miss the UNC Greensboro game.
Siena then cut the Delaware lead to 76-73 on a steal and layup by Mitchell with 2:30 left to play. The Hens would not score a field goal the rest of the way, but did the job at the line. Despite entering the game as the Colonial Athletic Association's ninth-ranked free throw shooting team at 59.6 percent, the Hens hit on 11 of 12 to finish the game, including four by Slattery.
Siena ruined its comeback chance by turning the ball over twice in the final two minutes.
The Blue Hens return to action in the Oneida Bingo and Casino Classic, at Green Bay, Wis., Friday, Dec. 27. Tip-off against Eastern Washington is 6 p.m., EST. Consolation and finals begin at 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 28.
For more information on UD men’s basketball, see the web site at [www.udel.edu/sportsinfo/mens_basketball/].
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