Siena star Gavin Doty said, “Call me delusional, but I believe we can win in March,” he said. “I’m ready to go.”
ATLANTIC CITY, live coverage from Press Row, Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall — On Tuesday night, the No. 3 seed Siena Saints denied the No. 1 seed an NCAA tournament appearance for the first time ever in a 64-54 victory. The win made them, not the Merrimack Warriors, the MAAC tournament champions.
It’s hard to believe that it took 16 years for the Saints to get back in the NCAA tournament. They last made it in 2010 under then-coach Fran McCaffery. This time, it came down to this: MAAC MVP Gavin Doty (game-high 23 points) outplayed MAAC Player of the Year KeVair Kennedy (15 points). Doty was two rebounds away from a double-double.
Siena second-year coach Gerry McNamara: “He (Doty) works so hard with his game. He can handle the ball. He can score in the mid-post. His jumper is so stupid. His mid-range is so good. His skillset and relentless competitiveness make him a unique player I’ve ever coached.
Doty was possessed early by hitting a jump shot, giving the Saints a 2-0 lead. Later, when Merrimack finished the first half on a 10-0 run, cutting its deficit to 33-30 at halftime, Doty scored the first six points of the second half. From there, Siena did not look back. Doty scored 12 second-half points, giving the Saints a 31-24 second-half finish.
Was the Siena do-it-all star motivated about not being the MAAC Player of the Year? “A personal accolade doesn’t define me,” he said. “I’m a team guy. I’m worried about winning a championship. I’m happy being first-team All-MAAC.”
Doty helped his teammates succeed. Brendan Coyle and Riley Mulvey each scored 11 points apiece, and both earned a double-double, with Coyle grabbing 10 rebounds and Mulvey grabbing 11 rebounds. Francis Folefac added 10 points, and Justice Shoats put in nine.
“It’s great to have great shooters,” Mulvey said. “It gives us a chance to get shots. It made my job easy, especially Merrimack’s playing zone, where we can defend and create our own shots.”
Merrimack’s zone played a role in Siena grabbing 15 offensive rebounds, including Folefac and Mulvey combining to grab 10 of them. This explained Siena’s 50-26 rebound advantage and 32-12 paint performance over Merrimack.
The unstoppable Gavin Doty (photo courtesy ESPN)
Winning the MAAC championship meant something for Doty. “Our fans played a role in our success,” he explained about letting Siena fans touch the trophy from the stands. “We have the best fans in the MAAC.”
McNamara expressed his appreciation for his players. “I’m a proud coach of the group,” he said. “They’re special. It shows the team’s character. They believe in each other. I’m happy for these kids that they got to experience this. They believe in one another. I’m proud of them. I’m happy for these kids that they got to experience this. This is something they will remember when they bond forever.”
While Siena showed the thrill of victory, Merrimack displayed the agony of defeat.
“I don’t realize or think about it right now after a loss like this,” Merrimack coach Joe Gallo said. “I will think about the journey when I grill hot dogs and drink beer in my backyard this summer. It’s been great. We’ve been in different games the last few years. It’s been impressive.”
For Kennedy, it showed that playing in March can be cruel. “It’s been a joy,” the freshman said. “I love everyone on this team, from coaches to players to the university. I’m going to do my best to win it all for this group.”
For Doty, March brings dreams. “Call me delusional, but I believe we can win in March,” he said. “I’m ready to go.”
