LOUDONVILLE, NY – For the second time this month, Siena Basketball has been selected to be showcased in a nationally televised Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference matchup. The Saints showdown at current league frontrunner Merrimack on Friday, Feb. 20 in North Andover, Massachusetts has been chosen as the MAAC Wildcard Game, and will be televised to a national audience on ESPNU. Tip-off has been moved to a primetime slot of 8 p.m.
This marks the second ESPNU game for Siena this month. The Saints thwarted archrival Iona 79-72 in a MAAC Wildcard broadcast just last Thursday at MVP Arena.
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 one additional upcoming game flexed to ESPNU as part of the MAAC Wildcard Package later this season – the regular season finale vs. Rider on Sunday, Mar. 1 at MVP Arena. 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 MAAC Wildcard Game selection comes with Siena (17-8, 10-4) off to the program's best 25-game start in 16 years, dating back to the 2009-10 MAAC Championship season. The Saints, who have achieved separate seven and six-game win streaks this season, currently stand in third place in the MAAC Standings, just a game back of second place Saint Peter's, and only two games back of frontrunner Merrimack with six conference contests remaining.
Merrimack (16-9, 12-2) has won four straight to reclaim top billing in the MAAC for a team which was predicted to finish seventh according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Warriors have been fueled by the duo of four-time MAAC Rookie of the Week Kevair Kennedy as well as Ernest Shelton, who currently rank third and sixth in the conference in scoring, respectively.
Siena and Merrimack have met just twice since the Warriors joined the MAAC last season, with Merrimack capturing both matchups to date including a 63-59 decision on Jan. 9 at MVP Arena. The Saints cut a 19-point deficit down to as little as two in the final 30 seconds, but couldn't complete the comeback. The Warriors are the lone MAAC team still undefeated at home overall this season (8-0), while Siena leads all conference teams with 10 wins away from home overall (eight road, two neutral), which recently included a five-game road win streak.
The Saints return to action when they host MAAC preseason favorite Quinnipiac Friday night at 7 p.m. at MVP Arena.
