BURLINGTON, VT – Siena Basketball may have completed final exams in the classroom Saturday, but the Saints still have one of their stiffest tests of the semester on the hardwood ahead of them. Siena resumes action – and non-conference play – following a 10-day span due to final exams, when the Saints battle perennial America East power Vermont Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Patrick Gymnasium.
 
Rob Ryan and Bernie Cieplicki 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 6:30 p.m.
 
Siena (9-2, 2-0) returns to action hoping to pick up right from where they left off during an historic start to the season. Ranked 25^th nationally in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll for a second straight week, and riding seven straight wins, the Saints seek to build upon the program's best start in 27 years. At 9-2, Siena has equaled its best 11-game start since opening the 1950-51 season 10-1, while the Saints 7-2 non-conference mark is its best through nine games since finishing a perfect 9-0 during the 1998-99 MAAC Championship season.
 
An unheralded defensive effort has spearheaded the early season success. Siena ranks sixth nationally in scoring defense (61.4), and has yet to allow more than 75 points in any game. The Saints are a perfect 9-0 when holding the opposition under 70 points, and have bequeathed just 59.4 points during their current seven-game win streak.
 
But Vermont (7-5), which has captured six of the past nine America East Championships, poses a most formidable challenge. Once more their conference's preseason favorite, the Catamounts lead the America East offensively in scoring (77.7), field goal percentage (.477), three-point field goal percentage (.358), and free throw percentage (.750). Preseason All-Conference selections TJ Hurley and TJ Long pace Vermont which is in the midst of a three-game homestand all against MAAC opponents in Merrimack (won, 66-59 on Sunday), Siena, and Iona (Saturday).
 
The old rivals meet for the 32^nd time, albeit the first time in eight years after Vermont won eight straight times spanning eight seasons from 2010-17. Siena still leads the all-time series, however, 18-13.
 
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