Siena Ousts Manhattan With Eight Point Victory

3/9/2008 5:00:00 AM

Associated Press

Box Score

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -Alex Franklin scored 26 points, pulled down nine rebounds and added three steals to lead Siena to a 66-58 win over Manhattan in the quarterfinal round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament Saturday.

Ronald Moore added 11 points and 10 rebounds for Siena. Edwin Ubiles scored 12.

The top-seeded Saints (20-10), who fended off a late Manhattan charge, advance to face fourth-seeded Loyola in Sunday's semifinals.

Devon Austin scored 17 points and had 11 rebounds for Manhattan (12-19), while Chris Smith and Antoine Pearson added 10 points apiece.

The Saints took a 32-23 lead into halftime and led for the final 31:35.

Manhattan cut the lead to 54-47 with 4:26 to play on a pair of free throws by Cory Magee but never got any closer as the Saints hit five foul shots over the final 31 seconds to clinch the win.