WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ - Siena Basketball seeks to secure the program's eighth MAAC Regular Season Championship outright when the Saints conclude regular season action at Monmouth at 7 p.m. at the OceanFirst Bank Center. Winners of eight straight and 11 of 12, Siena would clinch the No. 1 seed in next week's MAAC Tournament as well as the conference's automatic NIT bid with a victory tonight or a Saint Peter's defeat.
Siena (18-10, 14-5) clinched at least a share of the regular season crown with Wednesday night's resounding 77-55 romp of Niagara at the Times Union Center. The Saints would lock up the No. 1 seed in next week's MAAC Tournament back here down the shore in Atlantic City with a win tonight or a Saint Peter's loss vs. Iona (7 p.m.). Siena would face the winner of next Tuesday's No. 8/9 game in the MAAC Quarterfinals Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Saints would be the No. 2 seed with a loss tonight coupled with a Saint Peter's win, and take on the victor of Tuesday's No.7/10 game in the MAAC Quarterfinals Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. in this scenario.
Siena returns to the road tonight to close out its regular season slate. The Saints are finishing with four of their final five regular season games on the road, after having played six of their previous eight games prior to that at the Times Union Center. Siena swept its three-game road trip last week, and has won four of its last five road games following an 0-9 start on the road. The Saints' lone defeat during their hot stretch was a narrow defeat at the second-place Peacocks.
Monmouth (18-12, 12-7) also enters tonight's regular season finale with much at stake, as the Hawks would secure the No. 3 seed in the MAAC Tournament with a win or fall to the No. 4 seed with a loss. Monmouth is 11-1 at home this season, with its last three victories at the OceanFirst Bank Center coming by an average of 15.7 points.
Siena is in search of its MAAC win here in West Long Branch, as the Hawks have captured the first six meetings on the shore between the programs since joining the conference in 2013-14. The Saints earned just their third win in 14 meetings against Monmouth since the Hawks joined the MAAC, with a 75-72 triumph to open the New Year on Jan. 3 in Albany. Siena overcame a 10-point halftime deficit and took its final lead on an
Elijah Burns basket with 1:28 remaining.
Eddy Occhipinti and former Monmouth Head Coach Dave Calloway have the call of tonight's game on ESPN+, which 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. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time.
Pregame coverage commences at 6:30 p.m. in the Capital Region on Talk1300 AM and 98.7 FM with A.J. Kanell and Andy Grazulis '92 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.
