NORTH ANDOVER, MA – Siena Basketball faces first-place Merrimack in a primetime nationally televised showdown on ESPNU Friday night at 8 p.m. at Lawler Arena.
 
Derek Jones and Tim Welsh have the call of the nationally televised broadcast on ESPNU, which 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 "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 7:30 p.m.
 
Siena (18-9, 11-5) continues its recent gauntlet against fellow Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference contenders. The Saints conclude a grueling stretch of five of seven on the road, the final three of which have come against top-five teams in the standings.
 
The most successful team away from home in the MAAC, Siena has faced the challenge head on. The Saints lead the league with 11 wins away from MVP Arena – including nine true road wins – which is tied for the third highest total in program single-season history.
 
But as good as Siena has been on the road, Merrimack (18-9, 14-2) has been equally impressive at home. The lone remaining undefeated team at home in the MAAC, the Warriors are a perfect 9-0 at Lawler Arena where they have won their last four home games – three of which have come against the top-five teams in the MAAC – by an average of 15.5 points.
 
Predicted to finish seventh according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, Merrimack can clinch at least a share of the regular season title with a victory coupled with a Saint Peter's loss. The second-year MAAC program has posted a league-leading 28-8 mark in conference action since joining the MAAC.
 
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