WASHINGTON, DC – Siena Basketball wraps up the non-conference portion of its schedule when the Saints take on Patriot League upstart American in a Holiday Week matinee Thursday at 1 p.m. at Bender Arena. Siena is in search of securing the program's first winning non-conference campaign in seven years, while the Eagles enter play riding their longest winning streak in 11 years.
 
Fresh off its second Franciscan Cup victory in three tries, Siena (6-5, 1-0) now shifts its attention on finishing non-conference play and heading into the holidays on a high note. At 5-5 through their first 10 non-conference tilts, the Saints, with a win Thursday afternoon, would clinch their first winning non-conference record since posting a 7-4 mark in 2015-16. Siena went just 19-34 (.358) in non-conference action from 2016-22.
 
The Saints enter their non-conference finale as one of the best all-around shooting teams in the country. Siena ranks 30^th nationally in free throw percentage (.761), and leads the MAAC while standing 33^rd nationally in three-point field goal percentage (.386). The Saints are shooting a scintillating 81.7% from the charity stripe over the past nine games, and have been buoyed from long distance by Andrew Platek who ranks seventh in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (.509) while also leading the MAAC with 28 made threes. Additionally, Siena ranks second in the MAAC in field goal percentage (.454).
 
After dropping its first two games of the season, red-hot American (8-2) has won eight straight to mark the program's longest winning streak since winning 11 in a row during their 2011-12 Patriot League Championship season. With a win today, the Eagles would match their best 11-game start (9-2) in 42 years (1980-81).
 
American, which is playing for the first time in nine days following their final exams, ranks 32^nd nationally in field goal percentage (.489), and leads the Patriot League in both scoring defense (63.6) and steals (7.9). Predicted to finish seventh (10 teams) according to the Patriot League Preseason Poll following a 10-22 record last season, the Eagles have defeated common non-conference opponents Georgetown and UAlbany, and previously split games against MAAC foes, defeating Mount St. Mary's and losing to Marist.
 
Siena and American meet for the second time during their scheduled four-year series which began back in 2019. The teams were unable to play each of the past two years for the scheduled game at Bender Arena due to COVID complications. The programs are slated to meet again next year in the Nation's Capital before returning to Albany to conclude the series in 2024. The Saints lead the all-time series 5-2, with the most recent matchup featuring a 96-80 Siena win in the 2019-20 season-opener in Carmen Maciariello's head coaching debut.
 
Dan Laing and Gordon Austin have the call of the game on ESPN+, which can be watched by clicking the corresponding link. Mike Demos and Conner Fenlon '12 have the radio call of the action courtside from the Nation's Capital locally in the Capital Region on ALT 104.9 FM and online at alt1049albany.com.