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When the clock hit 0:00 on March 22, it may have signaled the end of the Siena Saints' 2008-'09 season, but in no way did it classify the Loudonville college's basketball team as losers. Instead, it just ended a weekend that was the definition of "March Madness."

It all started March 20, with Siena taking on the Ohio State Buckeyes in a first round match-up of the NCAA Tournament. Though the game was supposed to be played on a neutral court, the Saints were at a clear disadvantage playing in Dayton, Ohio, just 71 miles away from the Ohio State campus.

The partisan Buckeye crowd did not seem to affect Siena, however, as they battled back and forth for 50 minutes of thrilling basketball.

Down by four with under a minute left to play, senior captain Kenny Hasbrouck drained a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 56-55. Then with four seconds left, Hasbrouck hit one of two free throws to tie the game and send it into overtime.

With the clock winding down in overtime and the score tipping 65-62 toward Ohio State, it looked like Siena's tournament run would be short-lived. But junior guard Ronald Moore pulled up from the top of the key and hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 65 and send it into a second overtime.

Then it was déjà vu: Down 72-71, Moore took a pass from Edwin Ubiles, and from almost the exact same spot, hit another three with 3.9 seconds left to give Siena a 74-72 win, advancing them to the second round.

Up next for the Saints were the Louisville Cardinals, the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament and top team in the nation. Nevertheless, Siena decided to try on Cinderella's slipper - and it nearly fit.

Down by as many as 14 points in the second half, Siena continued to battle. After going on a 12-0 run, the Saints even led the powerhouse Cardinals 63-59 with 7:01 left to play. 

However, Louisville proved to be too much in the end. With a smothering defense, strong rebounding and pinpoint shooting, the Cardinals went on a run of their own to close out the game and escape with a 79-72 victory.

Still, Siena enjoyed perhaps its most successful season in team history, going 16-2 in the MAAC, pulling out a thrilling double-overtime victory in round one, and coming within inches of slaying Goliath.[[In-content Ad]]

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