ALBANY, NY – The two most storied Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men's basketball programs take the national stage when Siena hosts archrival Iona Thursday night at 7 p.m. at MVP Arena. The Saints annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Game will be broadcast to a national audience on ESPNU.
 
Tickets start as low as $15 (service fees apply if purchasing through Ticketmaster) and can be secured by clicking the corresponding link, in-person at the MVP Arena Box Office, or by contacting Ticketmaster by phone at (800) 745-3000. The Siena Fan Relations Management Center is on-hand to handle all ticket-related inquiries, and can be reached by phone at (518) 487-2202 or by e-mail at sienatickets2@siena.edu. For all Siena Basketball ticket-related information, log onto sienasaints.com/tickets.
 
For the third time in five seasons, Siena (16-7, 9-3) will host Iona (14-9, 6-6) in a nationally televised showdown at MVP Arena showcased on ESPNU. The Saints captured each of those previous two tilts, but the Gaels have prevailed in all six meetings since.
 
The nationally televised bout features the two most storied men's basketball programs in the 46-year history of the MAAC. 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.
 
Siena carries a five-game winning streak into the latest installment of the rivalry, following the program's first sweep of the annual Western New York trip in a decade. Thursday marks the first of just two home games during a pivotal seven-game stretch for the Saints. The remaining three road games during the stretch are against the other three teams currently in the top-four in the MAAC Standings. Siena enters play tied for second place with Saint Peter's – whom they face Saturday in Jersey City – and just a game back of frontrunner Merrimack.
 
After playing five of their last seven in New Rochelle – including three straight home games followed by the league bye to close out January – Iona returns to action for the first time in six days to open a stretch where they play three of their next four on the road. The Gaels have dropped four straight MAAC road contests.
 
Siena has faced Iona more times than any other opponent as the programs meet for the 129^th time in a series which the Gaels lead 73-55. Each of the past three matchups have been decided by three points or less and by a total of just eight points, including a 75-72 victory by Iona in the first meeting between the squads on Jan. 2 in New Rochelle.
 
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 Andy Grazulis '92 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.
 
Follow the Saints on X (@SienaMBB), Facebook (SienaBasketball), and Instagram (sienambb) for all the latest news, updates, and content. Upload pictures of yourself and your friends enjoying the game through the Selfiefinder platform by clicking the corresponding link at the top of the page, or by downloading the Selfiefinder app and searching "Siena." The best selfies from the game will be displayed on the video scoreboard early in the second half.