Siena Saints Capture MAAC Championship After 16-Year Drought

Siena basketball returns to its expected glory with a 64-54 win over Merrimack in the MAAC title game.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 6:18am

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The Siena Saints men's basketball team captured the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship, their first in 16 years, with a 64-54 victory over Merrimack at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Led by head coach Gerry McNamara, the Saints jumped out to an early 15-point lead and held off a second-half Merrimack comeback to claim the MAAC title and secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

Siena basketball has long been a powerhouse at the mid-major level, with a passionate fanbase and strong institutional support. This championship represents a return to the program's expected level of success after a few down years, and will reinvigorate the community's excitement around the Saints.

The details

Siena built a 15-point first-half lead by hitting several early three-pointers, then withstood a Merrimack run to take a 3-point lead into halftime. The Saints then went on a 12-0 run to start the second half, and while Merrimack never went away, Siena made enough plays late to secure the 64-54 victory. Sophomore guard Gavin Doty scored a game-high 23 points, including a key stepback three-pointer in the final minutes to help seal the win.

  • The MAAC Championship game was played on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.

The players

Gerry McNamara

The head coach of the Siena Saints, who took over the program two years ago after a 4-28 season. McNamara is a former star player at Syracuse University.

Gavin Doty

The sophomore guard for the Siena Saints, who scored a game-high 23 points in the MAAC Championship game. Doty is described as having a "killer instinct" similar to McNamara's playing style.

Francis Folefac

The freshman forward for the Siena Saints, who was tasked with defending MAAC Player of the Year Kevair Kennedy of Merrimack. Folefac's defense was a key factor in limiting Kennedy's production.

Riley Mulvey

A rotation player for the Siena Saints who is from the local Rotterdam, New York area. Mulvey played his first four seasons at Iowa under former Siena coach Fran McCaffery.

Brendan Coyle

A rotation player for the Siena Saints who is from the local Niskayuna, New York area. Coyle hit two key three-pointers during Siena's early run in the game.

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What they’re saying

“This is what Siena basketball is supposed to look like. This is what Siena basketball is supposed to feel like.”

— Gerry McNamara, Head Coach, Siena Saints

“I knew the shot clock was winding down. I needed to make a big play. Felt like if we hit a three right there, it could kind of close the game away. We got some momentum off of that. Just let it fly. I was confident. I tried staying forward in my shot – GMac always tells me to lean forward and that I'm a really good shooter when I do that.”

— Gavin Doty, Sophomore Guard, Siena Saints

“When coach told me I'd be guarding the Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, there wasn't anything I wanted more. Just this being my freshman year too, I wanted him to have a hard night.”

— Francis Folefac, Freshman Forward, Siena Saints

What’s next

The Siena Saints will now await their seeding and opponent for the 2026 NCAA Tournament, which they have qualified for by winning the MAAC championship.

The takeaway

This MAAC title victory represents a return to the expected level of success for the Siena Saints basketball program, which has long been a mid-major powerhouse. The win was fueled by the team's local connections, stifling defense, and the leadership of head coach Gerry McNamara, who has quickly restored the program to its rightful place atop the MAAC.