WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP, PA – Siena Basketball looks to bounce back and close out November on a high note when the Saints battle Bucknell in a neutral site, Northeast Pennsylvania homecoming for head coach Gerry McNamara and Justice Shoats Saturday at 6 p.m. at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.
 
Doug Birdsong and Kevin Clark 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 Conner Fenlon '12 will have the radio call of the game locally in the Capital Region on JAMZ 96.3 FM, with pregame coverage beginning at 5:30 p.m.
 
Siena (3-4) and Bucknell (4-4) are set to square off in the first NCAA Division I men's basketball game at the venue now known as Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in 19 years, dating back to an 86-52 victory by Scranton native McNamara and Syracuse over Towson on Dec. 27, 2005 before a crowd of 8,209. McNamara fueled the Orange with 20 points, seven assists, and five steals in his homecoming.
 
Affectionately dubbed the "The Mayor of Scranton," whose late uncle actually once was the leader of The Electric City, McNamara was a two-time Associated Press Pennsylvania State Player of the Year (2001, 2002) and the 2002 Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year and Parade Magazine Fourth Team All-American while starring at Bishop Hannan (now known as Holy Cross). McNamara finished his scholastic career seventh all-time in scoring in Pennsylvania state history with 2,917 career points.
 
Meanwhile Shoats, a native of Wilkes-Barre who starred at Holy Redeemer, earned Pennsylvania Sports Writers Class 3A All-State Second Team honors. He was a three-time Times Leader All-WVC and two-time Player of the Year honoree.
 
Homecoming aside, McNamara and Shoats will look to lead Siena back into the win column to close out November. The Saints have dropped four straight – all away from home – following a 3-0 start. Siena is in the midst of a stretch where they play seven straight away from home – and are set to compete in their third straight neutral site contest – spanning 35 days between games at MVP Arena. The Saints are in search of their first .500 or better month since going 7-2 in January 2023 (seven straight losing months).
 
Bucknell enters play looking to snap a two-game slide of their own. Two of the Bison losses thus far have come against high-major opponents in Maryland and then 23^rd ranked Kentucky, with the other two vs. MAAC foes Mount St. Mary's and Rider. Bucknell is led by John Griffin III whose father, John Griffin, was the head coach at Siena from 1982-86.
 
Siena and Bucknell meet for the seventh time in 10 seasons. All-time, the Saints hold a 5-2 advantage in the series, with the home team winning each previous matchup. Tonight marks the first neutral site tilt between the programs. The only other meeting prior to the recent stretch was the inaugural matchup between the programs in 1985, when Siena was coached by the elder Griffin.