ALBANY, NY - Siena Basketball begins a season-long four-game homestand when the Saints host Niagara Friday night at 7 p.m. in the program's milestone 400th all-time game at the facility now known as MVP Arena. After having played just five home games spanning the first three months of the season, Siena is set to complete its four-game homestand in the span of just seven days as part of a grueling six-game, 12-day stretch.
Tickets start as low as just $10 for adults (service fees apply if purchasing through Ticketmaster), and can be secured by clicking the corresponding link, in-person at the MVP Arena Box Office (opens at 10 a.m.), or by contacting Ticketmaster by phone at (800) 745-3000.
The Siena Basketball MVP Arena Spectator Policy, which was last updated on Jan. 7, remains in effect. All attendees - regardless of vaccination status - are required to wear a mask at all times inside MVP Arena, except when actively eating or drinking. The updated policy, which complies with New York State's mask mandate issued last month - which was adopted by Albany County and recently extended to Feb. 1 - also continues to require fully vaccinated guests to provide proof of vaccination, and partially vaccinated or unvaccinated fans to provide proof of a negative test upon entry. For more information, click the corresponding link.
Siena (6-8, 3-3) looks to get back on track within the friendly confines of MVP Arena after having dropped its past two contests - both on the road - at Manhattan and defending MAAC Tournament Champion Iona. The Saints had won four straight - both overall and on the road - prior to that stretch.
Niagara (8-10, 3-6) too is looking to bounce back from tough back-to-back losses of their own. The Purple Eagles fell at home to current MAAC No. 2 Saint Peter's in overtime last Friday, and then squandered a 17-point halftime lead in a home loss Sunday vs. Rider. While Siena is beginning a season-long four-game homestand, Niagara opens a stretch where they play seven of their next nine away from Monteagle Ridge.
Siena and Niagara meet for the 106th time, with the Saints holding a 56-49 edge in the series. The Saints are 12-4 in the last 16 meetings overall, and have won 15 of the previous 17 matchups in the Capital Region.
Robert Lee and Kelly O'Donnell have the call of the action locally on My4 Albany, which is televised in the Capital Region over the air on Channel 51, and is available to Spectrum subscribers on Channel 4. Check your local listings for more information. The game will also be simulcast on ESPN+, which can be accessed by clicking the corresponding link, on smartphones and tablets via the ESPN app, and on televisions through Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. All Siena home games this season will be broadcast on either ESPN3 or ESPN+, with all remaining home games also simulcast locally on Capital Region television on My4 Albany.
Pregame coverage tips off at 6:30 p.m. locally on Talk1300 AM and 98.7 FM with
Emmanuel Berbari and Andy Grazulis '12 on the call courtside from MVP Arena. Complimentary online audio of the broadcast can also be accessed by clicking the corresponding link.
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. Upload pictures of yourself and your friends enjoying the game through the Selfiefinder platform by clicking the corresponding link at the top of the page, or by downloading the Selfiefinder app and searching "Siena." The best selfies from the game will be displayed on the video scoreboard during the first timeout of the second half.
