ALBANY, NY – Siena Basketball returns to the Capital Region for its only home game in a 33-day span when the Saints host Canisius in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener Friday night at 7 p.m. at MVP Arena.
 
Tickets to the Saints' MAAC opener start at just $10 (service fees apply if purchasing through Ticketmaster) and can be purchased by clicking the corresponding link, in-person at the MVP Arena Box Office, or by contacting Ticketmaster by phone at (800) 745-3000. The Siena Fan Relations Management Center is on-hand to handle all ticket-related inquiries, and can be reached by phone at (518) 487-2202 or by e-mail at sienatickets2@siena.edu.
 
Siena is pleased to partner with the United States Marine Corps Reserve to host a holiday toy drive throughout the game benefiting Capital Region Toys for Tots. All fans who bring a new, unwrapped toy to the game will receive $5 off select seats to the Saints' next home game on Dec. 19 vs. St. Bonaventure for the Br. Ed Coughlin Franciscan Cup. The toy collection will take place on the MVP Arena concourse outside Sections 104 and 105.
 
Siena (4-3) looks to tip off the month of December by building off its historic performance in last week's ESPN Events Invitational. The Saints posted high-major wins over Florida State (ACC) and Seton Hall (Big East) to capture third place at the eight-team event in which Siena was the only mid-major participant. Siena's signature victories marked the program's first high-major wins in eight years, first victory over an ACC squad in 12 years, and first triumph over a Big East member in 19 years. Moreover, the Saints have now defeated multiple high-major opponents in the same season for the first time in 14 years to punctuate the program's first winning November in seven years.
 
Siena will have an opportunity to secure three high-major wins in a season for just the second time ever (1993-94) next Wednesday at Big East foe Georgetown, but can ill-afford to look past Canisius (2-4) in the all-important conference opener. Friday night's lid-lifter is one of only two home games for the Saints during an 11-game span which features six true road games and three neutral site contests.
 
Siena embarks upon its 34^th season of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference competition in search of the program's 10^th Regular Season title and seventh Tournament Championship come March. Predicted to finish sixth according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Saints are an impressive 22-11 all-time in MAAC openers including a stellar 24-9 in MAAC home-openers.
 
Projected to finish last according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Golden Griffins enter play looking to bounce back from an 86-66 loss at Big Four rival Buffalo Sunday. Canisius enters play ranked ninth nationally in threes per game (11.2) and is receiving 34.8 points from its bench which ranks 14^th in the country. However, the Golden Griffins have dropped 17 of their past 18 road contests dating back to the start of last season.
 
Friday night's tilt features the first three MAAC Rookie of the Week award winners this season in two-time winner Tahj Staveskie of Canisius and this week's winner Michael Eley of Siena. Eley teamed with now two-time MAAC Player of the Week honoree Javian McCollum on Monday to sweep the weekly awards for the Saints for the first time since Jan. 18, 2021.
 
Siena and Canisius meet for the 109^th time, with the Saints holding a 57-51 advantage. The Golden Griffins have held the upper-hand of late, going 14-6 over the past 20 meetings. However, Siena is a stellar 39-9 at home vs. Canisius during the program's Division I era.
 
Kelly O'Donnell and Andy Grazulis '92 have the call of the game on ESPN+, which can be viewed by clicking the corresponding link. "The Voice of the Saints" Emmanuel Berbari and former Saint Anthony Gaines will have the radio call of the action locally in the Capital Region on ALT 104.9 FM and online at alt1049albany.com.
 
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 in the second half.