WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ - Siena Basketball aims to match its longest winning streak in nine years when the surging Saints travel to the Jersey Shore to battle Monmouth Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the OceanFirst Bank Center. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
Eddy Occhipinti, Steve Bazaz, and Suzi Mellano have the call of the game on ESPN3. The ESPN3 broadcast is accessible by clicking the corresponding link, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and on televisions through Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
Gameday Central coverage commences with The Anderson Group Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m. locally on Talk1300 AM and 98.7 FM, and online at SienaAllAccess.com. A.J. Kanell and Andy Grazulis '92 have the call of the game both through the radio broadcast as well as the complimentary online audio stream, which can be listened to by clicking the corresponding link.
Social media updates will be provided courtside throughout the day via the Saints' official twitter page @SienaMBB. Join the conversation by using the hashtags #MarchOn, #UnleashMayhem, and #MAACHoops.
Here's Ten Things to Know About Tonight's Game
1.) Siena (9-11, 4-3) has won three straight to match the program's longest winning streak in two years. A victory tonight would match the program's longest winning streak since winning five straight from Feb. 26 - Mar. 8, 2010.
2.) Siena commences its busiest stretch of the season featuring three games in just five days. Following tonight, the Saints will travel to Iona Saturday before returning home to host Fairfield Monday.
3.) Siena also begins a stretch where it plays four of its next five games on the road. The Saints have already won five games away from home this season, including four true road victories.
4.) Siena has been propelled by a stout defense over its past nine games. The Saints have allowed an average of just 58.1 points, while holding the opposition to 70 points or fewer in all nine games.
5.) The 40 points Siena allowed in Saturday's win over Manhattan were tied for the second fewest in the program's Division I history.
6.)
Jalen Pickett earned his fifth straight MAAC Rookie of the Week award Monday, and seventh overall. He has won the most MAAC Rookie of the Week awards since Schadrac Casimir of Iona won eight times in 2014-15.
7.) Pickett ranks in the top-50 nationally in assists (6.8 - ninth), steals (2.2 - 31st), and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.67 - 42nd)
8.) Monmouth (6-16, 5-4) defeated Siena 63-60 in overtime on Jan. 14 in Albany, for the Saints' lone loss over their past five games. Pickett led Siena with 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists, while Deion Hammond led Monmouth with 16 points.
9.) Monmouth leads the all-time series with Siena 11-4, and has captured 10 of 12 meetings since joining the MAAC in 2013-14. Each of the past two matchups have been decided in overtime.
10.) Monmouth was swept on its Buffalo trip after having won its previous four. The Hawks have bounced back to go 6-4 over their past 10 games after dropping their first 12 contests to open the season.