ALBANY, NY – Siena Basketball opened the second half on a decisive 25-4 run to rout Niagara 77-55 on Senior Night in front of a capacity crowd of 7,146 at the Times Union Center. Elijah Burns and Jalen Pickett each posted double-doubles for the Saints who clinched at least a share of the program's eighth MAAC Regular Season Championship, while finishing a perfect 14-0 at home.

Winners of eight straight and 11 of their last 12 since a Jan. 19 defeat at Niagara (11-18, 9-10), red-hot Siena (18-10, 14-5) secured at least a share of the program's first MAAC Regular Season Championship since 2009-10. The Saints can clinch the regular season crown outright as well as conference's automatic NIT bid and the No. 1 seed in next week's MAAC Tournament in Atlantic City with a win at Monmouth Friday night, or a Saint Peter's loss vs. Iona. Otherwise, Siena would be the No. 2 seed.

Burns erupted for his third double-double of the season with 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Saints who completed just the program's third undefeated home season in 23 years since making the full-time move to the Times Union Center, and first in a decade. Pickett also notched his third double-double of the season with 10 points and a season-high 12 assists for Siena who has won beaten every MAAC team at least once this season after securing their 11^th win in the last 14 matchups vs. the Purple Eagles, including seven of the last eight in Albany.

Reigning MAAC Player of the Week Marcus Hammond, who entered play averaging 14.8 points per game, was limited to just two points on 1-12 shooting for Niagara who lost its hold on the final First Round bye in the MAAC Tournament. Justin Roberts scored 12 of his 15 points in the first half for the Purple Eagles who slipped to sixth in the MAAC Standings, and can finish anywhere from 5-8 heading into their "Battle of the Bridge" matchup at Canisius Friday night.

Neither team led by more than four points in a tightly contested first half which featured six ties and nine lead changes. Donald Carey drilled the go-ahead three on the Saints' final possession of the stanza as Siena claimed a 33-30 lead at the break.

But the second half was all Saints from the get-go. Siena reeled off its 25-4 run over just 7:28, opening the stanza 10-12 from the field with nine assists. The Saints capped the deluge with back-to-back threes to quickly claim a commanding 58-34 lead with 12:32 remaining. Siena, who shot 59% in the second half while limiting Niagara to just 26%, ultimately led by as many as 28 points.

Carey finished with 12 points on four threes for the Saints who shot an even 50% from the field. Manny Camper added nine points, 14 rebounds, and five assists for Siena who dished out 23 assists on their 27 made field goals to mark the program's most in a game since a 24-assist effort on Jan. 30, 2017 at Quinnipiac.

James Towns tallied 13 points for the Purple Eagles who shot just 33% from the field, as the MAAC's top three-point shooting team was also just a quiet 5-16 from distance.

The Saints' second capacity crowd of the season brought the team's final average home attendance to 6,228 at the Times Union Center, the program's highest mark in four years. Siena outscored their opponents by an average margin of 11.1 points this season at home to finish perfect in Albany for the first time since posting back-to-back 17-0 marks in both 2008-09 and 2009-10.

The Saints have attacked the regular season and will now look to finish the job Friday night when they make their first of two trips this month down the Jersey Shore to battle the Hawks at 7 p.m.