Canisius College (3-1, 1-0 MAAC) vs. Siena College (3-1, 0-0 MAAC)

Saturday, Dec. 7, 2002?7 p.m. Pepsi Arena?Albany, N.Y.
Internet/Radio: 105.1 FM Jay Moran (play-by-play) TV: None

Tonight Canisius plays its second conference game of the young season as the Blue and Gold travels to Siena for a 7 p.m. showdown. It will be Siena's first MAAC game, and the Saints will raise last year's MAAC Championship banner before the contest. Canisius enters the game with a 3-1 record and is coming off a 71-67 victory at Bucknell. Siena owns a 3-1 mark and is coming off a 59-55 loss at Toledo. The Saints are 2-0 at home this season. This is the final contest of a three-game road trip for Canisius. Following a weeklong break for exams, the Griffs play their next three games at home, which includes contests against local rivals Buffalo and St. Bonaventure. Quick Hits Hodari Mallory has scored in double figures in his last eight games and is averaging 18.5 points a game during the stretch... He has scored over 20 points in his last three contests and is 15-for-18 from three-point range (.833) in his last three games... Brian Dux had his first career double-double at Niagara Nov. 30, posting 24 points and 10 assists; he's the first Griff to collect 10 assists since Kevin Worley had 10 vs. Niagara Feb. 6, 1999... Brian Dux is averaging 15.5 points a game in his last eight outings and scored over 20 points four times...The Griffs have shot 50 percent from the floor or better in two of their four games... Canisius has 67 assists on 117 total field goals this season (57.3 percent).

Scouting the Saints

Siena is led by freshman Michael Haddix, who is averaging 15.8 points and 7.3 rebounds a game off the bench. Prosper Karangwa averages 11.5 points and 8.3 rebounds a game, while Austin Andrews is averaging 10.3 points a game. The Saints boast a starting front line of Austin Andrews (6-9), Brent Sniezyk (6-10) and Justin Miller (6-8). They are outrebounding their opponents 39.8-30.8 (+9.8), including 64-40 on the offensive glass.

Series History

The Saints lead the all-time series, which began in the 1940-41 season, 34-32. The teams split home wins last season with the Blue and Gold earning a 76-68 victory in Buffalo and Siena taking a 63-43 victory in Albany. Toby Foster scored 16 points, and Brian Dux collected 15 points and seven assists in the first meeting. Dwayne Archbold netted 27 points and six rebounds to lead Siena in the second contest. Canisius is 2-15 against Siena in Albany since joining the MAAC in 1989. The Griffs have dropped the last four games at Siena. Their last victory was a 73-72 triumph in 1997, head coach Mike MacDonald's first season. The Griffs have won 12 of the last 21 meetings.

Record Setting Performance Hodari Mallory tied a school record with seven three-pointers at Bucknell Dec. 3 Craig Wise netted seven against Fairfield Feb. 13, 1995, and Mickey Frazier had seven against Toledo Dec. 20, 1995.

Not a Bad Outing Hodari Mallory scored a career-high 27 points in 24 minutes against Niagara Nov. 30. The senior netted 22 points in the second half. He shot 9-of-14 from the field, 4-for-4 from three-point land and 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. It's the most points a Griff has scored since Darren Fenn tallied 29 points and 18 rebounds in a home 85-82 victory over Niagara Feb. 15, 2000. It's the most points a Griff has scored on the road since Kevin Thompson netted 27 at Colgate Dec. 28, 1997, in an 88-79 victory. Mallory is shooting 67.3 percent from the field and 76.2 percent from three-point land this season.

Record Setting Defense Canisius set a school record by allowing Niagara to shoot 18.4 percent (7-for-38) from the field in the first half Nov. 30. The previous record was 18.8 percent (6-for-32), set in 1984 against Oswego and matched against the University at Buffalo Nov. 24, 2001. The 89-69 victory was the Griffs' largest margin ever at Niagara and their biggest win against the Purple Eagles since an 84-63 home victory in the 1994-95 season. Opponents are shooting 36.8 percent against Canisius this season.

Off on the Wrong Foot Toby Foster and Dewitt Doss will be out 6-8 weeks with injuries. Foster, a senior forward and captain, fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot and had a screw put in to stabilize the fracture Oct. 26. Doss, a junior guard, has a stress fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his left foot and had a screw put in to stabilize the fracture Nov. 2. Foster started 25-of-26 games last year and finished second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.5 points a game in addition to five rebounds a contest. He is the school's all-time leading three-point shooter with 189 treys and has 828 career points. Doss started 29-of-30 games last season and was fifth on the team in scoring with 8.7 points a game to go along with two assists a contest.

First Four on the Road The Griffs will play their first four conference games on the road. The last MAAC team to play its first four conference games on the road was Canisius in the 1995-96 season. The Griffs posted a 19-11 overall record, a 7-7 mark in the MAAC, won the MAAC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament that season.

Friendly Confines For the first time ever, Canisius will play all its home games on campus. The Griffs own an all-time mark of 127-38 (.774) in the Koessler Athletic Center. The KAC underwent a $1.3 million facelift over the past three years, which includes adding reserved seating and bringing the capacity to 2,176. Season ticket sales have increased 400 percent from last season.

Head Coach Mike MacDonald 71-78; .477 (6th Year); Native of Ridgefield, Conn. Tied for seventh in school career wins, one away from sixth. He spent nine years as an assistant at Canisius under Marty Marbach and John Beilein. Mike's late father-in-law, Tom Heary, played for Canisius from 1957-60, while his brother-in-law, Michael Heary, played at Navy. Brother Tommy played at New Hampshire, brother Timmy played for St. Michael's and brother John played for Dowling.

Mr. Helper With a career-high 10 assists against Niagara Nov. 30, Brian Dux moved into third on the all-time Canisius list. He collected 145 assists last season and ranked second in the MAAC in assists (4.85/gm) and first in assist to turnover ratio (+2.52) en route to being named third-team all-conference. He led the Griffs in assists in 24-of-30 games. It was his second straight year with over 100 assists.

The Iron Man Brian Dux averaged 32.1 minutes a game and started all 30 games last season. The senior guard played 35 or more minutes in six contests. Dux has started 68 consecutive games, dating back to his freshman season. He has played in every game during his collegiate career, 95 contests. Dux is averaging 35.8 minutes a game this season. He played 40 minutes against Saint Joseph's.

Preseason Poll Canisius was picked to finish sixth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Senior guard Brian Dux was named second-team All-MAAC.

Putting Names in the Record Books Seniors Brian Dux and Toby Foster have a chance to put their names among the elite in Canisius basketball history. Dux has 882 career points (30th) and 381 assists (3rd). Only one player in Canisius history has scored over 1,000 career points and dished out over 350 assists. Craig Wise (1991-95) tallied 1,799 points (3rd) and 353 assists (6th) to go along with 784 rebounds (4th). Foster has 828 career points (34th) and 401 rebounds (32nd). Thirteen Canisius players tallied over 1,000 points and over 500 rebounds.

Long Road Trip Canisius spent 10 days in Europe last August and compiled a 4-0 record on the hardwood. Nine players made the trip, and five averaged double figure points. Hodari Mallory led the team with 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds a game, and Toby Foster posted 14 points and 8.5 rebounds a contest. Brian Dux tallied 12.5 points and 4.3 assists, while Richard Jones and Dewitt Doss each averaged 12 points a game.

Welcome to the KAC In a series that began in the 1919-20 season and has seen 150 meetings, Canisius has hosted St. Bonaventure in the Koessler Athletic Center just once. The Bonnies defeated the Griffs 67-53 Jan. 21, 1995. St. Bonaventure will visit the KAC Dec. 19.

Perk Knows Basketball Tom Perkovich is the first Griff since 1949 to play football and basketball all four years at Canisius. An offensive lineman on the football team, the senior played in every game during his career (42 contests) and started the last 31. He walked on to the basketball team as a freshman and has seen action in 19 contests.

The Tradition Continues Sophomore Andrew Spitler is the fourth Spitler to don the Blue and Gold and the fifth to play collegiate basketball. His father (Kevin), uncle (Mark) and brother (Pat) all played at Canisius, and Pat transferred to Stony Brook. Another brother, Chris, played at Holy Cross. Andrew transferred from John Carroll and attended St. Joe's High School. Andrew's parents are infamous for traveling anywhere to see their sons play.

From Way Downtown... With his third three-pointer against Bucknell Jan. 5, 2002, Toby Foster set a new school record for career treys. The senior bested the old mark of 147, set by Kevin Thompson, who played for the Griffs from 1994-98. Foster now has 189 career three-pointers and a .417 career percentage.

Mid-Season Stretch Canisius will play five straight games on the road, beginning at Notre Dame Dec. 22. Following Christmas, the Griffs travel to Syracuse (Dec. 30), Florida International (Jan. 2), Iona (Jan. 8) and Marist (Jan. 10).

No In-Season Tournament This is the first season Canisius has not played in a regular-season tournament since the 1992-93 campaign.

On the Tube Four Golden Griffin games will be broadcast live on the Empire Sports Network this season, and two games are part of the MAAC television package. Canisius won its first televised contest this year at Niagara 89-69 Nov. 30. The Griffs' home contest against St. Bonaventure Dec. 19, will be broadcast live on the Empire Sports Network. The showdown with the Bonnies will renew a series that began in the 1919-20 season and has seen 150 meetings between the two teams. It will be just the second game ever between St. Bonaventure and Canisius in the Koessler Athletic Center. The Griffs' game against Saint Peter's in the Pepsi Arena in Albany Jan. 20, and their home contest against Manhattan Feb. 2, will be televised live on Empire Sports Network and MSG as part of the MAAC television package.

On the Air All of Griffs' games will be aired on the radio at 105.1 FM The River and all on the Internet at www.GoGriffs.com.

Non-Conference Schedule Canisius plays at Big East opponents Notre Dame (Dec. 22) and Syracuse (Dec. 30) and hosts Atlantic 10 foe St. Bonaventure (Dec. 19). The Griffs have a 2-1 non-conference mark this season.

Griffin History This is the 99th season of Canisius hoops, and the Griffs have an all-time record of 1079-965 (.527). The Golden Griffins' 93-69 victory over Iona on Feb. 8, 2001, was the 2000th men's basketball game in Canisius history.

Captains Brian Dux, Toby Foster and Hodari Mallory are the Canisius captains this season.

Canisius Signs Two Darnell Wilson and Charles Harris, a pair of players from Michigan, have signed National Letters of Intent to attend Canisius and play basketball, beginning in the 2003-04 season. A 6-foot-6, 190-pound forward, Wilson averaged 20 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks a game at John Glenn High School, where his team posted a 15-7 record and won its league tournament championship. He averaged 22 points an outing over the last 15 games of the season. Wilson was named first-team All-West by the Detroit Free Press and second-team All-West by the Detroit News. He was rated one of the top-five power forwards in Michigan by prepspotlight.com. Harris, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound guard averaged 21 points a game at Southfield Lathrop last season. He earned all-state honors in the Class A division and was named all-league. Harris will play his senior season at St. Martin DePorres High School under head coach Durand Shepherd.

Last Time Out Hodari Mallory scored a game-high 26 points, including 19 in the first half, as Canisius grinded out a 71-67 men's basketball victory over Bucknell before 1,312 in Davis Gym Tuesday night. Mallory tied a school record with seven three-pointers in the game (on eight attempts), and it was his third straight game with more than 20 points. The senior finished the night 9-for-12 from the floor and added seven rebounds, three assists and four steals. Kevin Downey scored a career-high 14 points, and Yaku Moton-Spruill tallied his first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Jon Ferris contributed nine points and three rebounds off the bench. Matt Quinn scored a career-high 22 points and Boakai Lalugba registered his fourth straight double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds for Bucknell. With Canisius clinging to a 62-61 cushion with 2:41 remaining, the Bison had two possessions to try to take the lead, but Kevin Bettencourt and Quinn both missed three-point jumpers. Downey stretched the lead back to three with a driving layup with 1:04 to play, and Richard Jones, who had been just 1-for-8 from the field on the night, put in a dagger with a long three-pointer from the left wing with 37 seconds left. Bettencourt was fouled on a three-point attempt and made all three free throws to make it 67-65 with 23 seconds remaining, but the Bison never had a shot to tie as Downey and Brian Dux went 4-for-4 from the foul line in the final 16 seconds. Mallory and Quinn put on an amazing three-point display in the first half, as both players sank 5-of-6 long-range attempts in the opening 20 minutes. After Canisius bolted to a quick 14-2 lead just 3:20 into the contest, Quinn drained three successive three-pointers to ignite a 15-2 Bison run that gave them a 17-16 lead with 12:05 left in the half. The lead changed hands seven more times in the first half, with Lalugba's dunk just before the buzzer giving Bucknell a 39-35 lead. After Lalugba's baseline jumper stretched the Bison's lead to a game-high six in the opening seconds of the second half, Mallory headed another big Canisius run with a long three-pointer. The Golden Griffins reclaimed the lead with a 10-0 spurt in a span of just 1:49. Bucknell drew even once more at 53-53 on Bettencourt's free throw with 8:47 left, but the Bison never again led. Ferris' three-pointer with 4:45 to play gave the Griffs their largest lead at 62-54, but Bucknell reeled off seven straight points, including another Quinn trey, to make it 62-61 with 2:41 left. Bucknell was plagued by poor free-throw shooting, making only 16-of-32 attempts. The Bison also cooled off after a hot first half, making only 33.3 percent (9-for-27) from the field after shooting 48.1 percent (13-for-27) in the opening half. Canisius shot 46.6 percent from the field and canned 11-of-19 (.579) three-point tries.