Following a significant 99-89 road victory over Dayton last Tuesday, the Siena men’s basketball team is shifting its focus toward a home matchup against Brown University.
The Saints, who currently hold a 2-1 record, are emphasizing consistency as they prepare for the Saturday night contest at MVP Arena, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Freshman player Tim Ibukunoluwa noted that the team remains grounded despite the recent success, stating, “For this one, it’s the same message. Just go out there and play hard and execute the scout.”
Siena coach Nevada Smith indicated that Brown is a formidable opponent that has played closer than its 1-3 record suggests.
The Bears are coming off an 86-81 loss to Canisius, according to the Times Union.
This game marks the first Saturday night home appearance for Siena since November 2022, a scheduling rarity for the program.
Junior point guard Pace Prosser, who recorded 11 assists without a turnover in the Dayton win, expressed optimism regarding the team’s momentum.
Prosser said, “I would hope we would have a pretty full crowd here, especially coming off that win.”
Ibukunoluwa has been a standout performer early in the season, averaging 24.3 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Regarding the freshman’s impact, coach Smith noted, “We knew he was going to affect winning for us at a very high level.”
Brown is coached by Eric Reveno, who previously played for Stanford during the 1989 NCAA Tournament.
The Saints expect a significant turnout at the arena as they look to build upon their recent performance against Atlantic 10 competition.
The team remains committed to the same tactical approach that secured their previous win, the outlets reported.
Siena continues its early-season schedule with high expectations for the remainder of the year.