DAYTONA BEACH, FL – Last season Siena Basketball headed into a Thanksgiving Week MTE in the Sunshine State looking for a jolt following back-to-back losses, and kickstarted their season with a pair of historic high-major wins. This year the Saints find themselves in the same situation and seeking a similar outcome as they return to Florida for the Sunshine Slam presented by Discount Tire Monday and Tuesday at the Ocean Center.
 
Siena (1-2) will open play in the Ocean Bracket of the Sunshine Slam against Central Michigan (1-3) Monday at 11:30 a.m. The Saints will then face either Milwaukee (2-2) or Stetson (1-2) Tuesday in either the Ocean Bracket Championship (12 p.m.) or third-place game (8:30 p.m.).
 
Siena will look to duplicate their success from the last time they participated in a Thanksgiving Week MTE in Florida just last season. The Saints posted high-major victories over both Florida State (ACC) and Seton Hall (Big East) to claim third-place at the prestigious 2022 ESPN Events Invitational contested in nearby Lake Buena Vista. Siena was the only non-high major team in the eight-team field.
 
The Saints arrive in Daytona looking to bounce back following back-to-back road setbacks at Richmond, in a non-bracketed Sunshine Slam campus site game, and at American. Siena was without the services of reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year and Preseason Second Team All-MAAC selection Michael Eley (ankle) for both of those losses. Eley posted his first collegiate double-double with career-highs of 24 points and 11 rebounds in a season-opening win over Holy Cross.
 
The Saints are 3-1 all-time vs. the Ocean Bracket field, having swept a home-and-home with Central Michigan in 1989-90 and 1990-91, defeated Milwaukee in Wisconsin in 1994, and fell against Stetson in nearby DeLand in 1981.
 
Corey Brooks and Jennifer George have the call of both Siena Basketball games on FloHoops, which can be viewed by clicking the corresponding link. The "Voice of the Saints" Emmanuel Berbari has the radio call alongside former Saint Conner Fenlon '12 locally in the Capital Region on the new radio home for Siena Basketball, JAMZ 96.3 FM, with pregame coverage commencing 30 minutes prior to tip-off.