CINCINNATI, OHIO - Siena Basketball returns to Ohio for the first time since the program's historic 2009 NCAA Tournament win over Ohio State when the Saints battle 19th ranked Xavier at 7 p.m. at the Cintas Center. The game will be broadcast on FSN, and will also be simulcast on YES in the Capital Region. 

Siena (1-0) is making its first appearance in the Buckeye State since the program's historic 2009 NCAA Tournament run. The ninth-seeded Saints defeated No. 8 Ohio State 74-72 in double overtime in Dayton, before narrowly missing upsetting No. 1 overall national seed Louisville two days later. 

Siena enters tonight's matchup looking to build off a solid start to the Carmen Maciariello era, which tipped off with an impressive 96-80 opening night win over American Tuesday at the Times Union Center. The 96 points scored marked the program's most in a season-opener in 35 years, while the 16-point margin of victory was the largest in a lid-lifter in 11 years and the biggest margin by a coach in his Siena debut since Dan Cunha in 1941-42. 

The test gets much stiffer however tonight, as the Saints prepare to take on their first nationally ranked opponent in three years. Siena is 6-44 all-time vs. Associated Press Top-25 teams, including 3-30 during the program's Division I era. The Saints have dropped nine straight vs. nationally ranked foes, with the last win coming over 19th ranked Vanderbilt 83-62 in the First Round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. 

Predicted to finish third according to the Big East Preseason Coaches' Poll, Xavier (1-0) enters play ranked 19th in the latest AP Top-25 Poll and 21st in the USA Today Coaches' Poll. The Musketeers return four starters from last year's 19-16 team which advanced to the Second Round of the NIT, highlighted by Preseason First Team All-Big East selection Naji Marshall and Preseason All-Big East Honorable Mention selection Paul Scruggs. Now in its 20th season of competition at the Cintas Center, Xavier has posted a 259-41 (.863) all-time record within the facility which is ranked seventh best nationally all-time amongst any program in a facility. 

Siena and Xavier meet for just the fifth time and first time in 17 years, with the Musketeers having won three of the first four matchups. The squads last met on Dec. 23, 2002 in Albany, a 96-88 win by 21st ranked Xavier. The Saints are 20-36 all-time vs. the 10 programs which currently comprise the Big East, with Siena's last win coming over Villanova in the 2003 NIT in Albany. 

Matt Schumacker and Dickey Simpkins have the national television call of the broadcast on FSN. The game will also be available to Capital Region viewers on YES, which airs on Channel 52. For a complete rundown of TV listings nationwide, click the corresponding link. The game can also be viewed online and via mobile devices via Fox Sports Go, which can be accessed by clicking the corresponding link.  

Pregame coverage commences at 6:30 p.m. on Talk1300 AM and 98.7 FM with A.J. Kanell and Conner Fenlon '12 on the call. 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 hashtag #MarchOn.