LOUDONVILLE, NY – The two most storied Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men's basketball programs squaring off on national television? U better believe it! ESPN and the MAAC have announced that the Thursday, Feb. 5 showdown featuring Siena Basketball hosting Iona at 7 p.m. at MVP Arena has been selected as the MAAC Wildcard Game, and will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
 
This marks the second straight season in which Siena has been selected for a nationally televised MAAC Wildcard Game, and the third time in the past five seasons that the Siena-Iona matchup at MVP Arena will be showcased on ESPNU.
 
The five-game (four men's, one women's) MAAC Wildcard Package provides both ESPN and the MAAC the flexibility to pick any game scheduled for a wildcard date, and flex the broadcast to a national audience on ESPNU to showcase the best MAAC Basketball matchups as the season progresses.
 
The Saints could end up having two additional upcoming games flexed to ESPNU as part of the MAAC Wildcard Package later this season – Friday, Feb. 20 at Merrimack and Sunday, Mar. 1 vs. Rider. MAAC Wildcard Game selections are announced by ESPN and the MAAC approximately one week prior to the game date.
 
ESPNU is available to Spectrum subscribers in the Capital Region on Channel 370, and can also be found on DirecTV Channel 208 and DISH Channel 141. ESPNU can also be accessed through the ESPN app and online at espn.com/watch (subscription required).
 
The nationally televised Siena-Iona matchup on Feb. 5 at MVP Arena features the two most storied men's basketball programs in the 46-year history of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Saints and Gaels rank 1-2 all-time in MAAC history in conference victories, regular season championships, and tournament titles. Siena stands second in all three categories despite joining the MAAC eight years after Iona, as well as Fairfield, Manhattan, and Saint Peter's – each of whom the Saints rank ahead of.
 
The MAAC Wildcard Game selection comes on the heels of a three-game win streak for surging Siena (14-7, 7-3), which currently stands third in the MAAC Standings at the midway point of their 20-game conference slate. A year removed from tying for the ninth best turnaround nationally, the Saints have already matched their win total from all of last season as they continue to take the next step under second-year head coach Gerry McNamara.
 
Iona (14-8, 6-5) has won back-to-back contests to move into sixth place in a crowded MAAC Standings. The Gaels have won six straight in the series over Siena – with the Saints most recent victory coming in the last ESPNU matchup between the programs on Jan. 27, 2023 in Albany – including a tight 75-72 decision in the first meeting this season on Jan. 2 in New Rochelle. The past three matchups between the longtime rivals have each been decided by four points or less, and by a total of just eight points.
 
The Saints return to action this weekend for their annual Western New York trip to Niagara (Friday at 6:30 p.m.) and Canisius (Sunday at 1 p.m.).