Siena men's basketball to return to site of 2002, 2009 NCAA Tournament victories
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The Siena men's basketball program has made special memories at University of Dayton Arena.
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The Saints will return there on Tuesday, Nov. 10, when they play the Flyers of the Atlantic 10 in a nonleague game next season. Dayton announced its nonconference schedule on Monday morning.
Two of Siena's NCAA Tournament wins came in Dayton's building - a 81-77 opening-round victory over Alcorn State in 2002 and a 74-72 double-overtime triumph over Ohio State in the first round in 2009.
The Saints and Flyers have met only once. Dayton beat Siena 87-67 at Dayton Arena on Jan. 2, 2001 during Louis Orr's only season as Siena coach.
Dayton is coached by Anthony Grant, entering his 10th season. The Flyers are coming off five straight 20-win seasons, including a 25-12 record in 2025-26. Dayton lost to VCU in the A10 championship game and reached the National Invitation Tournament quarterfinals.
The Flyers return two starters from last year's team - 7-1 junior forward Amael L'Etang, who averaged 11.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, and 6-6 forward Jaiun Simon (5.6 ppg). They added 6-9 junior forward Grant Randall, a Quinnipiac transfer who played against Siena twice in the Metro Conference.
Siena athletic director John D'Argenio is a 1982 Dayton graduate.
Entering its first year under head coach Nevada Smith, Siena hasn't announced its nonconference schedule yet as some contracts are being finalized.
Smith had said Siena could "possibly" play at St. John's next season. However, Red Storm coach Rick Pitino said Saturday from his box at Saratoga Race Course that St. John's isn't going to play Siena - either at Madison Square Garden or on campus at Carnesecca Arena.
Siena will open the regular season Nov. 2 at Bryant. The Saints are also expected to play Syracuse, led by former Saints coach Gerry McNamara, in a mid-October exhibition game at MVP Arena that hasn't been finalized yet.
If Siena successfully defends its Metro Conference title, the Saints could end up back at Dayton Arena again in March for the NCAA Tournament's opening round, which is held annually in Dayton.
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