ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Interstat) — In a grinding, defensive struggle that came down to the final seconds, Siena held off a furious second-half rally from Mount Saint Mary’s to secure a 63-58 victory in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament game Saturday at Boardwalk Hall.

The Saints, who led by as many as 14 points in the first half, saw their advantage whittled to a single possession in the final minute before clutch free throws from Gavin Doty sealed the win before a crowd of 2,047. The victory improved Siena’s record to 21-11 overall, while the Mountaineers concluded their season at 15-17.

The game’s defining sequence, and its most important part, unfolded in the tense final 30 seconds. Trailing 57-54, Mount Saint Mary’s guard Arlandus Keyes connected on a deep 3-pointer with just eight seconds remaining, slicing the deficit to 59-57 and sending a jolt through the Mountaineer contingent. Siena inbounded the ball to Doty, who was immediately fouled.

Doty, a 6-foot-5 guard from Fulton, New York, calmly sank both free throws with seven seconds left to push the lead back to four. On the ensuing possession, Mount Saint Mary’s point guard Xavier Lipscomb, attempting to race upcourt, had the ball stripped by Doty. Lipscomb was forced to foul Doty again, and the Siena sophomore returned to the line to drain two more free throws, extending the lead to 63-57 and effectively ending the contest. Doty scored the final six points for Siena, all from the foul line in the last seven seconds, to finish with 17 points.

The game was a stark contrast of halves. Siena controlled the opening period with efficient offense and stifling defense, building a 35-21 lead at the break. Brendan Coyle was instrumental in the first-half surge, scoring 14 of his 17 points before halftime, including four 3-pointers. The Mountaineers struggled mightily from the field, shooting just 29% in the first half and committing nine turnovers.

The second half saw a complete reversal of momentum. Mount Saint Mary’s, led by the interior dominance of center Luke McEldon, began chipping away at the deficit. The 6-foot-10 junior from London, England, was a force after the break, scoring 14 of his game-high 18 points in the second half. His work in the paint, complemented by Keyes’ perimeter shooting, fueled a 20-8 run that brought the Mountaineers within two points midway through the period.

Siena’s offense, so fluid in the first half, stagnated against a more aggressive Mount Saint Mary’s defense, managing only 28 points after halftime. Justice Shoats, who led Siena with 13 points and six assists, and Francis Folefac, who added 10 points, helped steady the Saints during the Mountaineers’ push, but the team could not deliver a knockout blow.

Every time Siena seemed poised to pull away, Mount Saint Mary’s answered. A driving layup by Shoats gave Siena a 59-54 lead with 21 seconds left, setting the stage for Keyes’ dramatic 3-pointer and the ensuing foul-shooting contest that Doty won decisively.

Keyes finished with 14 points for Mount Saint Mary’s, while Lipscomb added seven points and three assists. For Siena, Riley Mulvey contributed six points, two assists and two blocks, providing a key defensive presence in the paint.

The game was a defensive battle, with both teams combining to shoot under 40% from the field. Siena’s ability to capitalize from the free-throw line in the final moments proved the ultimate difference, as they went 8 for 8 from the stripe in the last 47 seconds. Mount Saint Mary’s, which had defeated Siena by 17 points in their last outing against Fairfield, could not complete the season sweep and saw its campaign end in the conference tournament.

Siena advances in the MAAC tournament, while Mount Saint Mary’s, which had won four of its last five games entering the contest, heads into the offseason.