ALBANY, NY - Siena Basketball makes its 2019 Capital Region debut when the Saints host defending MAAC Co-Regular Season Champion Canisius in the conference home-opener as part of National Grid "Go Green" Night Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Times Union Center. The game, which is also being sponsored by IBEW Local 236, will be televised locally in the Capital Region on My4 Albany, in addition to being simulcast on ESPN3.
Fans are encouraged to wear green to the game as part of National Grid's "Go Green" Night. Tickets to tonight's game start as low as just $10 for adults (service fees apply if purchasing through Ticketmaster), and can be secured by clicking the corresponding link, in-person at the Times Union Center Box Office (opens at 10 a.m.), or by contacting Ticketmaster by phone at (800) 745-3000. Siena Basketball Flex Ticket Plans can be purchased by clicking the corresponding links, or by contacting the Siena Fan Relations Management Center by phone at (518) 487-2202, online at sienasaints.com/tickets, by e-mail at sienatickets2@siena.edu, or by stopping by the office located at the Times Union Center (opens at 8:30 a.m.). Active your Siena ReplyBuy account by clicking on the corresponding link to receive exclusive last minute ticket deals featuring heavily discounted center court and premium seating options, and receive a $5 credit towards your first purchase.
Siena Athletics and Hannaford Supermarkets are set to team up once again to support Capital Region hunger relief efforts with the annual food drive benefiting the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. Guests who donate at least three non-perishable items will receive a voucher for two free tickets to a future 2018-19 Siena Men's Basketball regular season home game. The collection will take place on the Times Union Center concourse outside sections 104 and 105. Fans are also welcome to make cash donations at the entrances to the arena.
Tonight's game also marks the final scheduled DeCrescente Craft Beer Nights featuring Druthers Brewing Company's award-winning fine craft beers as well as samplings from other local breweries. Tickets to attend the Craft Beer Night located in the end zone by the Canisius bench are priced at just $20, and include admission to the game. Fans who have already purchased a ticket to the game can attend the Craft Beer Night for $15. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the Siena Fan Relations Management Center at (518) 487-2202, or at the entrance to the Craft Beer pavilion.
Siena (5-9, 0-1) is looking to bounce back following a conference-opening 65-60 loss at Saint Peter's Thursday afternoon. The Saints cut a 19-point deficit with 12:25 remaining down to the final margin of five. Siena now returns home to the friendly confines of the Times Union Center, where the Saints are 21-8 (.724) all-time in MAAC home openers. Siena has won four of its past five conference home lid-lifters, with the four victories coming by an average of 19.5 points.
Meanwhile Canisius (4-8, 1-0) commenced conference play with a 75-72 victory at Marist Thursday night. The Golden Griffins are led by 2018-19 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year Isaiah Reese and reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year Takal Molson, who currently ranks fourth in the MAAC averaging 16.6 points per game.
Siena and Canisius are set to meet for the 101st time, with the Saints leading the all-time series 54-46. Siena has posted a stellar 35-8 (.814) record vs. the Golden Griffins in the Capital Region during the program's Division I era.
Robert Lee and Kelly O'Donnell have the call of the game locally on My4 Albany as well as on ESPN3. My4 Albany is available in HD to Spectrum subscribers in the Capital Region on Channel 4. 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. with A.J. Kanell and Andy Grazulis '92 on the radio locally on Talk 1300 AM and 98.7 FM, and online at SienaAllAccess.com. Complimentary online audio of the broadcast can also be accessed by clicking the corresponding link at the top of the page.
Social media updates will be provided courtside throughout the day by following the Saints' official twitter page @SienaMBB. Join the conversation by using the hashtags #UnleashMayhem #MarchOn, and #MAACHoops. Upload pictures of yourself and your friends enjoying tonight's game through the Selfiefinder platform by clicking the corresponding link at the top of the page, or by downloading the Selfiefinder app and searching "Siena." The best selfies from tonight's game will be displayed on the video scoreboard during the first timeout of the second half.
