Siena 65, Loyola, Md. 63

3/9/2008 9:19 PM

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Josh Duell worked his way inside for the go-ahead basket with 19.4 seconds remaining as host Siena erased a 17-point deficit and defeated Loyola 65-63 in the semifinal round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament Sunday night.

The top-seeded Saints (21-10) advanced to face Rider contest in Monday's championship game. Fourth-seeded Loyola finished the year 19-14.

Trailing since the 11-minute mark in the first half, including down 38-21 late in the opening half, Siena tied the game at 63 with 1:12 to play on two of Alex Franklin's game-high 22 points. Franklin added 12 rebounds and three blocks.

Assisted by Kenny Hasbrouck and fouled on his way to the hoop, Duell followed a minute later to put the Saints up for good - his only points for the night.

Hasbrouck added 17 points for Siena, which used a half-spanning 14-4 run to get back into the game.

Omari Isreal had 12 points and 18 rebounds for Loyola, while Marquis Sullivan added 14. Michael Tuck and Gerald Brown scored 13 points apiece.

Siena, which trailed for nearly 32 minutes, beat Loyola for the first time in three tries this season.

The teams traded the lead early in the first half before Loyola used a 19-5 run to push ahead, eventually taking a 38-28 lead into the break.