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Siena sophomore guard Nico Clareth said he didn't worry about whether he would rejoin the Siena men's basketball team this season.

"I didn't try to think about that,'' Clareth said Thursday, the first time he's spoken to the media in almost a month. "I was just focused on being positive and working hard as I can, doing what I can control."

After a seven-game leave from the program, Clareth made a sudden return to the lineup in an 81-79 victory at Iona on Tuesday. He played 24 minutes and scored 14 points, including nine in a row early in the contest.

"I'm just happy to be back on the team,'' he said. "Love being with my fellas."

Clareth wasn't in a mood to speak at length about his hiatus, which started Jan. 14 after a loss to Quinnipiac. At the time, Siena head coach Jimmy Patsos said Clareth didn't seem "all in," and athletic director John D'Argenio said Clareth needed to play more as part of the team.

"Just not doing what I'm supposed to do,'' Clareth said. "It could be a lot of things or facts that build up into it."

Asked if it was fair that he wasn't with the team, he responded: "Is life fair? All right, then."

Siena at Marist

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: McCann Arena, Poughkeepsie

Radio: WGDJ (1300 AM)

It was just then that senior forward Lavon Long stepped in for Clareth in front of reporters as though he were substituting into a basketball game.

"All right, Nico,'' Long said. "Got to take over, buddy."

Long said he and his teammates had been in touch with Clareth, who had sent them encouraging text messages after games.

"It's great, it's great,'' Long said. "He's been gone for a while, he came back with a lot of positivity, playing great. So it means a lot having him back."

Clareth said his teammates have welcomed him back.

"The same as I was expecting,'' he said. "These are my brothers and my teammates, so they accepted me."

Patsos said he decided to allow Clareth to come back after a lunch at a local Chinese restaurant Sunday. He said it wasn't related to Siena entering a tough stretch of four games in eight days, starting with Marist in Poughkeepsie on Saturday night. He also provides a 3-point threat for a Siena offense that's shooting only 29.9 percent from behind the arc, second-worst in the MAAC.

"It's more of a feel thing, when he's ready to come back,'' Patsos said. "It was made on a daily, how are we doing, where are we going? ... I just wanted to talk it through, and the next meeting went well. So that's why he's back."'

Patsos said he likes what he's seen so far from Clareth, who averages 12.5 points per game. Patsos plans to keep bringing Clareth off the bench for the remainder of the season.

"He's been good in practice,'' Patsos said. "He clearly brings energy, and he can score points. But I want him to keep playing defense."

"I'm just growing,'' Clareth said. "Growth has been a big part of my year, so I'm just trying to grow in every way I can. Be the best teammate, be the best person, be the best student, everything."

Siena might also get another player back soon. Freshman guard Khalil Richard returned to practice today for the first time since spraining his ankle against Iona on Jan. 27. He'd missed three games since then.

"He looked good,'' Patsos said. "He's trying hard. I was surprised he went today."

msingelais@timesunion.com • 518-454-5509 • @MarkSingelais

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