ALBANY, NY - Siena Basketball begins its quest for a sixth MAAC Championship when the fifth-seeded Saints battle No. 4 Rider in the MAAC Quarterfinals at 9:30 p.m. at the Times Union Center. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
Tickets to tonight's game can be purchased in advance by clicking the corresponding link at the top of the release, in person at the Times Union Center Box Office, or charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.
Siena (16-15) enters postseason play winners of 10 of their last 14. The upstart Saints finished in a four-way tie for second place in the MAAC Standings, after being predicted to finish last according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll following a tied for last place finish a year ago.
Siena is making its milestone 30th MAAC Tournament appearance, having posted a 38-24 (.613) record. The Saints' five titles are tied with Manhattan for the second most, as Siena trails only Iona in both MAAC Championships (11) and MAAC Tournament record (54-26, .675). Siena is hosting the MAAC Championships for the 20th time, and has amassed a 28-15 (.651) mark in MAAC Tournament games played in Albany, including a 19-6 (.760) ledger since 2002.
The unanimous MAAC preseason favorite and defending co-regular season champions, Rider (16-14) rebounded down the stretch winning four of its last five following a five-game losing streak. The Broncs are in search of the program's first MAAC Championship, having posted a 14-21 record and reached the championship game in 2005 and 2008. Rider has fallen in the MAAC Quarterfinals in each of the past eight seasons.
Siena leads the all-time series with Rider 32-17, and has won seven of the last 10 matchups overall including four straight in Albany. The Saints have captured each of the three MAAC Tournament meetings between the programs by an average of 19.7 points.
The winner of tonight's contest will advance to face MAAC Regular Season Champion and No. 1 seed Iona in the MAAC Semifinals Sunday night at 6 p.m. at the Times Union Center. The three-time defending MAAC Tournament Champion Gaels fended off upset-minded nine-seed Saint Peter's 73-71 Friday night.
Eddy Occhipinti and Chris Williams have the call of the game on ESPN3. 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 9 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. For complete MAAC Tournament coverage, click on the corresponding MAAC Tournament Central link.
