WORCESTER, MA – Siena Basketball tips off its 82^nd varsity season when the Saints take on Holy Cross Monday night at 7 p.m. at the Hart Center.
 
Siena heads into its 47^th Division I campaign looking to build off of four straight top-three MAAC finishes. Predicted to finish sixth according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Saints return a pair of starters and 10 letterwinners from last year's squad which posted a 15-14 overall and finished third in the MAAC with a 12-8 league mark. Siena welcomes seven newcomers to the program this season, highlighted by six true freshmen.
 
Holy Cross is eager to improve upon a 9-22 ledger last winter, which included a 7-11 record in Patriot League action. Gerrale Gates was named a Preseason All-League selection for the Crusaders, who were projected to finish ninth out of 10 teams according to the Patriot League Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
Siena is 41-40 all-time in season-openers and 31-50 in road openers. The Saints have dropped seven of their last 10 season-openers, as well as eight of their past nine road lid-lifters. Meanwhile Holy Cross is a remarkable 80-20 in home openers spanning their century-long history.
 
Siena and Holy Cross meet for the sixth time in the past six seasons in non-conference action, and the Saints hold an 11-6 all-time advantage overall against their brief one-time MAAC foes (1989-90). The programs are meeting for the second straight season in Worcester, where Siena cruised to a 72-59 triumph last Dec. 11.
 
Kevin Gehl and Jacob VanRyn have the call of the game for Holy Cross on ESPN+, which can be viewed by clicking the corresponding link.
 
Emmanuel Berbari returns for his second season as the "Voice of the Saints," and will have the season-opening radio call courtside from the Hart Center alongside Conner Fenlon '12. WINU debuts as the new radio home of Siena Men's Basketball this season, with games airing locally back in the Capital Region over the airwaves on ALT 104.9 FM. The games can also be listened to online free of charge at alt1049albany.com by clicking the corresponding link.
 
In addition to watching and listening to the game, follow along throughout gameday via the team's official twitter account @SienaMBB for courtside updates. For more information on the matchup, including both teams' game notes and to follow the live stats, click the corresponding links.