BUFFALO, NY - Siena Basketball battles for a MAAC Regular Season Championship when the Saints conclude the regular season with a huge weekend in Western New York. Siena commences play Friday night vs. fellow MAAC contender Canisius in a nationally televised primetime showdown at 9 p.m. on ESPNU.
Siena (15-14, 10-6) enters the final weekend of the regular season in a three-way tie for second place in the MAAC Standings with Quinnipiac and Rider, and just a half game back of frontrunner Iona. The Saints would capture no worse than a share of the MAAC Regular Season Championship and at least the No. 3 seed in the tournament with a sweep this weekend of Canisius (13-16, 10-7) and Niagara. However, Siena can still be seeded anywhere from 1-6, although the Saints would clinch a First Round bye with either a win tonight or a Monmouth loss.
Matt Martucci and Julianne Viani have the nationally televised call of the game on ESPNU. ESPNU can be viewed in the Capital Region by Spectrum subscribers on Channel 370. The game can also be watched online by clicking the corresponding link, and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app.
A.J. Kanell has the call of the action locally on Talk1300 AM, 98.7 FM, and online at SienaAllAccess.com, with pregame coverage commencing at 8:30 p.m. The complimentary audio stream 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.) The Saints are looking to snap a three-game losing streak in Western New York dating back to a sweep of the trip in 2015-16
2.) The Saints are tied for the 10th greatest turnaround nationally (+8.5) as of Monday. Siena has achieved a seven-win improvement overall, and six-win MAAC improvement.
3.)
Jalen Pickett was named the MAAC Rookie of the Week for a conference record-tying 10th time Monday. He is one of just 12 freshmen in NCAA Division I history to win 10 or more conference rookie of the week awards.
4.) Siena enters play winners of nine of their last 12. The Saints went 6-2 last month to tie for the program's best February since going 7-1 in February 2007.
5.) The Saints won each of their three February road games by two points apiece. Siena's seven true road wins this season mark the program's most since winning nine during the 2009-10 season. The Saints have won five of their last six road games overall.
6.) Pickett ranks in the top-50 nationally in assists (6.6 - 10th), steals (2.1 - 37th), and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.58 - 37th). He stands second among all freshmen in steals, third in assists, and seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio.
7.) Pickett, who broke Siena's freshman scoring record Sunday, needs five steals to break the program's freshman record of 64 set by Marquis Wright in 2013-14.
8.) Canisius captured the first meeting between the programs, 70-66 on Jan. 5 in Albany. The Golden Griffins overcame a 15-point first half deficit in the contest.
Evan Fisher (21 points, 17 rebounds), and Pickett (14 points, 11 assists) posted double-doubles for Siena. Takal Molson scored 23 and Isaiah Reese added 20 for Canisius.
9.) Siena and Canisius meet for the 102nd time, with the Saints leading the all-time series, 54-47. However, the Golden Griffins have captured 10 of the past 13 meetings overall, including five of the past six matchups in Buffalo.
10.) Canisius is playing its fourth game in eight days. The Golden Griffins have dropped three of four since moving into first place in the MAAC. Canisius is 9-5 on the road this season, but just 4-8 at home.
