ALBANY, NY - They're back! A total of 29 days following their last game action, Siena Basketball finally makes its long-awaited 2022 debut when the Saints host MAAC foe Fairfield at the newly renamed MVP Arena Sunday at 2 p.m. 

Tickets to Sunday's contest 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. Siena has transitioned to mobile tickets this season, which are the safest, easiest, and most flexible and convenient way to both utilize and transfer tickets. Fans can learn more about Siena's mobile ticketing, including training videos and an F.A.Q section, by logging onto sienasaints.com/mobiletickets. The Siena Fan Relations Management Center is ready to handle any and all ticket inquiries, and can be reached by phone at (518) 487-2202, by e-mail at sienatickets2@siena.edu, or online at sienasaints.com/tickets.

Siena announced its updated MVP Arena Spectator Policy Friday, which requires all attendees - regardless of vaccination status - 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 is set to celebrate both its Third Annual Sensory Friendly and Autism Awareness Game and CDPHP "Donate For Hunger" Food Drive Sunday. In an effort to create a more sensory-friendly atmosphere, slight in-game adjustments will be made to the lighting, public address, and music levels, and flashing ads on the video scoreboard, ribbon boards, and scorer's table and media table LED displays will be eliminated. Additionally, special group rates for seating in sensory-safe Section 102 are available for spectrum guests and others with special needs and their families. As part of the CDPHP "Donate for Hunger" Food Drive, all fans who donate at least three non-perishable food items at the game will receive a voucher good for two free tickets to a future Siena Men's Basketball home game this season. The collection, which benefits the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, will take place on the arena concourse outside sections 104 and 105. For more information on both initiatives, click the corresponding links. 

Siena (4-6, 1-1) returns to the court today for the first time since a 72-59 victory at Holy Cross on Dec. 11. The Saints' 29-day gap between games is currently the longest stretch nationally, while Siena's 37 days between home games is tied for the fifth-longest gap in DI so far this season. Siena resumes action looking to build off a stretch where they had won four of six, with both setbacks having come in overtime. 

Fairfield (8-6, 2-1) too just returned from a 15-day layoff with a 60-51 defeat at home Friday night to Marist. The Stags, who made an improbable run to the MAAC Championship Game as the seven-seed last March, started this season 8-3, but have since lost three straight. 

Siena leads the all-time series with Fairfield 44-32, and has won six straight. The Saints have swept the regular season series each of the past three years, including a weekend sweep of the Stags last January in Connecticut. 

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 ESPN3, 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 1:30 p.m. locally on Talk1300 AM and 98.7 FM with Emmanuel Berbari and Conner Fenlon '12 on the call. 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.