ALBANY, NY – Elijah Burns scored a career-high 28 points in just 24 minutes to lead Siena Basketball past Bucknell 81-71 in the Saints' first game at the Times Union Center in 39 days. Manny Camper added his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 14 rebounds for Siena which snapped a four-game losing streak while improving to a perfect 3-0 at home.

Burns shot 10-13 from the field and added eight rebounds for Siena (3-5) who outscored Bucknell (4-8) by a 30-point margin at 63-33 in the 24:19 the graduate student was on the floor. Donald Carey and Jalen Pickett each chipped in 12 points apiece and freshman reserve Jordan King scored a season-high 10 points for the Saints who placed five in double figures.

Jimmy Sotos tallied 23 points, seven rebounds, and four steals for the defending Patriot League co-Regular Season Champions who fell to 1-3 vs. MAAC teams this season. Siena however held the Bison's leading scorer Avi Toomer – who entered play averaging 17.4 points over his previous five games – to a quiet five points in 29 minutes.

The Saints led throughout and by as many as 18 points in securing their fifth win in six all-time meetings vs. Bucknell. Siena showed no rust following a 14-day layoff, as the Saints scored 13 points in the game's first four minutes and went on an 11-3 run late in the first half to claim a commanding 16-point lead. Siena shot 52% from the field and 15-16 from the free throw line to take a 43-31 advantage into the locker room.

The Saints scored the first six points of the second half to open their biggest lead at 49-31 on one of several three-point plays on the evening for Burns. Siena still led by as many as 17 midway through the second half, although a 10-1 run by the Bison cut the advantage to eight points at the under-eight media timeout. Bucknell closed to within as few as six at the 4:12 mark but the Saints, as they had all night long, continued to make their free throws to seal the victory.

Siena shot 29-35 (83%) from the charity stripe while limiting the Bison to just 7-9. The Saints continued to dominate the glass as well, holding a plus-10 rebounding advantage at 38-28.

John Meeks scored 12 points to go with seven rebounds and Andrew Funk added 10 points for Bucknell who has dropped six of eight.

Siena continues its first of two season long four-game homestands Monday when the Saints open MAAC play vs. Canisius at 6 p.m. at the Times Union Center.