ALBANY, NY - Home sweet home. Following a season long four-game road trip and 39 days between home contests, Siena Basketball finally returns to the Capital Region to commence a season long four-game homestand vs. Bucknell Saturday night at the non-traditional time of 6 p.m. for CDPHP Night at the Times Union Center.
Tickets to Saturday'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. Pro-rated season tickets are still available and can be purchased 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. on weekdays).
Siena Basketball Holiday Plans are on-sale now, featuring two exclusive options. Receive four flex vouchers for just $80 for seats in sideline sections 103, 107, 118, or 122, or purchase four flex vouchers for just $50 for seats in corner sections 101, 109-110, 115-116, or 124-125. Vouchers can be redeemed for game tickets at the Times Union Center Box Office.
Saturday's game marks the
first of two DeCrescente Craft Beer Nights. For just $20 receive a ticket to the game in the Craft Beer Pavilion in the end zone by the visiting bench, and six four-ounce samples of fine craft beers from exceptional local breweries. Those who already have a ticket to the game can still purchase admission into the Craft Beer Pavilion for only $15.
Siena (2-5) returns home for the holidays looking to snap a four-game losing streak. The Saints have dropped all five of their road games to date this season, but are a perfect 2-0 within the friendly confines of the Times Union Center where they have shot 50% from the field, 44% from three, and 79% from the free throw line in victories over American and St. Bonaventure.
After playing just four times in a 36-day span, Siena is set to play five games in the next 15 days starting with four straight in Albany. The Saints enter play with four of the top-15 scorers in the MAAC in
Jalen Pickett (16.0 - fifth),
Elijah Burns (14.3 - 13th),
Donald Carey (14.1 - 14th), and
Manny Camper (13.7 - 15th) who have combined to average 58.1 points to account for 80% of the team's scoring. Camper ranks 11th nationally in rebounding, averaging 11.1 of Siena's 39.7 rebounds per game which is 53rd best in the country.
Like Siena, Bucknell (4-7) is also playing for the first time in 14 days, albeit this will be the Bison's 12th game already this season as opposed to just the eighth for the Saints. Bucknell has already played three MAAC opponents this season, winning at Fairfield while losing road contests at Canisius and Rider. Predicted to finish second according to the Patriot League Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Bison have struggled defensively so far this season allowing 79.1 points per game on 48.6% shooting which ranks 18th and 13th worst nationally, respectively.
Siena and Bucknell are set to meet for the fifth time in six seasons, albeit just the sixth time ever. The Saints won the first four matchups, before the Bison got on the board in the last meeting with a 115-92 triumph in Pennsylvania on Nov. 20, 2017.
Kelly O'Donnell and Andy Grazulis '92 have the call of the game on ESPN+ as well as the simulcast locally in the Capital Region on My4 Albany. The ESPN+ broadcast is accessible by clicking the corresponding link, and offers fans thousands of additional live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN's linear TV or digital networks. This includes hundreds of MLB, NHL and MLS games, Grand Slam tennis, Top Rank boxing, PGA Tour golf, college sports, international rugby, cricket, the full library of ESPN Films (including 30 for 30) and more. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time. My4 Albany will simulcast all 12 remaining Siena Basketball regular season home games, and is available to Spectrum subscribers in the Capital Region on Channel 4.
Pregame coverage commences at 5:30 p.m. locally on Talk1300 AM and 98.7 FM with A.J. Kanell and Scott Knapp '01 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. 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.
