ALBANY, NY – Siena Basketball has now matched the program's best 11-game start since the Truman Administration. The Saints completed a dominant Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Opening Weekend sweep with a 74-52 victory over Canisius at MVP Arena.
 
Winners of seven straight, Siena (9-2, 2-0) has equaled its best 11-game start in 75 years, since opening 10-1 during the 1950-51 season. The Saints previously posted five other 9-2 starts since that time, most recently 27 years ago to begin the 1998-99 MAAC Championship season.
 
Antonio Chandler paced another balanced scoring effort featuring four double-digit scorers, posting his first Siena double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman reserve Christian Jones added a career-high 12 points, shooting 4-6 from three for the Saints which connected for 11 triples for the second straight game. Siena had entered the weekend ranked last nationally in made threes (3.6).
 
One of two former Saints in the starting lineup for Canisius (4-6, 0-2), Mike Evbagharu recorded a double-double with 10 points and 17 rebounds in his return to Albany. Javante Edwards was the high scorer with 12 points for the Golden Griffins, which shot just 32% from the field including only 4-20 from three against an unheralded Siena defense. The Saints began the day ranked 10^th nationally in scoring defense (62.3).
 
Canisius led 19-18 midway through the first half in a back and forth start before Siena assumed full control. The Saints ended the opening stanza on a 23-4 run over the final 9:28 to take a commanding 41-23 lead at the break.
 
Siena kept its foot firmly on the gas in the second half, ultimately leading by as many as 31 points, to also match the longest winning streak since running off a program record-tying 16 straight victories from Feb. 7, 2020 – Jan. 16, 2021.
 
Justice Shoats scored 10 points and dished out seven of 20 total assists for the Saints, equaling the program's most in five years since tallying 23 assists in a 77-55 triumph vs. Niagara on Mar. 4, 2020.
 
Freshman reserve Isaiah Henderson rounded out the double figure scorers with 10 points for Siena, which turned 14 turnovers into a 17-5 margin in points off turnovers, and helped fuel a 17-0 advantage in fast break points.
 
After seven games – and most importantly seven wins – in the span of just 17 days, the Saints will now enjoy a well-earned 10-day pause between contests for final exams. Siena returns to play – and non-conference action – when they travel to face perennial America East power Vermont on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. in Burlington.