Siena basketball set to revisit Dayton Arena for nonconference showdown

Siena's men's basketball team will travel to the University of Dayton Arena on Nov. 10 to face the Flyers in a non-league contest, revisiting a venue where the Saints earned two historic NCAA Tournament wins.

Siena men's basketball will play its first nonconference game of the upcoming season at the University of Dayton Arena on Nov. 10, taking on the Atlantic 10's Dayton Flyers. The venue is notable for Siena's 81-77 opening-round win over Alcorn State in 2002 and a 74-72 double-overtime upset of Ohio State in 2009. Dayton, under Anthony Grant's decade-long tenure, posted a 25-12 record last season and reached the NIT quarterfinals after falling to VCU in the conference final.

The Flyers return two starters—junior forward Amael L'Etang and forward Jaiun Simon—and added transfer Grant Randall from Quinnipiac. Siena, guided by new coach Nevada Smith, has not released its full nonconference schedule, though a possible game against St. John's was ruled out by Rick Pitino. The Saints will open the regular season at Bryant on Nov. 2 and are eyeing an exhibition with Syracuse later in October. If Siena captures another Metro Conference title, it could return to Dayton Arena for the NCAA Tournament's opening round in March.