The Siena Saints won the 2026 Air Force Reserve Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men’s Basketball Championship title on Tuesday night at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. No. 3 Siena upended top-seeded Merrimack College, 64-54, winning its first title since 2020 and the program’s seventh overall league crown.
The championship began Merrimack going ahead 6-2, but the contest quickly shifted in Siena’s favor, with the Saints taking the lead for good in the game, going on a 13-0, and 18-3 run for a 5:41 stretch, hitting its final five straight field goals by the second media timeout. Merrimack went on a 5:43 scoreless drought and was 1-for-11 during the timeframe. Additionally, a 9-0 run for 3:23 added to the Saints rally, extending their lead to 22-5. At the final media of the half (3:41), Merrimack scored five straight points to cut the game to single digits (28-20), hitting 4-of-5 field goals, while Siena was scoreless for 2:25. With 3:03 left and Siena up 13, the Warriors closed out the half with a 10-0 spurt, which cut the score to a single possession (33-30). The 10-0 run was highlighted by back-to-back triples from Andres Marrero and Ernest Shelton. Siena’s largest lead of the half was 15 points, coming at the 9:32 mark.
At the start of the second half, Siena quickly scored the first eight points, with Gavin Doty (6'5''-G) accounting for six of the points behind a pair of field goals and two free throws. Merrimack was held scoreless by the first media break at 15:53, with Siena leading 41-30. Siena’s scoring streak ascended to a 12-0 run by the 11:41 mark, putting them ahead 45-30. After nine minutes of being held scoreless the Warriors first basket in half was a layup by Kevair Kennedy (6'2''-G) at 10:58. With just under eight minutes on the game clock, Siena led 47-32, as each team fell into a slump. Merrimack was scoreless for 3:04 and 0-of-4 following its only made field goal of the half to that point, while Siena’s drought was 2:32 and they were also 0-of-4 (1 of last 8). The drought eventually ended for each side, and Merrimack brought the contest back to single digits following a 7-0 and 10-2 run with back-to-back threes by Todd Brogna and four points by Kennedy to cut the game to 49-40. By the final media break, Siena led 51-45. Out of the media timeout, a pair of free throws by Kennedy capped off 12-2 rally over a 2:45 span for the Warriors. Merrimack eventually got within four, but a huge stepback three by Doty with 2:19 on clock pushed the lead back to seven. Siena finished the game outscoring Merrimack 10-4 from that point on in the game, closing out the title run.

Siena Notes and Notables
Once again, only six players stepped on the court for Siena, with four players scoring in double-figures and the starting unit accounting for all 64 points.
Leading all-scorers in the win was Doty with his game-high 23 points.
He had eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block to go along with his points.
Riley Mulvey (7'0''-C) and Brendan Coyle (6'7''-F-2003, agency: One Motive Sports) each recorded double-doubles.
Mulvey’s came by way of 11 points and 11 rebounds, while adding five blocks and playing all 40 minutes.
Coyle scored 11 points with 10 rebounds.
Francis Folefac (6'7''-F), which also played all 40 minutes, logged 10 points for the second straight game and grabbed eight rebounds and had five assists.
Justice Shoats added the team’s final nine points and snagged eight boards of his own.
Siena had yet another game in which the team dominated time with the lead, holding the advantage for 36:18, while trailing for just 3:38.
In total, the Saints only trailed for 4:18 through three tournament contests.
Siena dominated the glass, outrebounding Merrimack by an astounding 50-26 margin.
The Saints also owned the paint, having a 32-12 edge in points in the paint.
The Saints have now won seven MAAC trophies, their first title since 2020, which is the second-most MAAC Championships in league history.
2026 marks the first completed MAAC tournament title for Siena since winning the 2010 crown and this will also be the first NCAA tournament appearance for the Saints since 2010.
Siena will find out their seed and opponent during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Selection Show, which airs live on CBS on Sunday, March 15 at 6:00 p.m.

Merrimack Notes and Notables
A trio of Warriors scored in double figures on the night and they included Shelton, Kennedy, and Brogna.
Shelton led the team with 17 points and had three rebounds and three blocks.
Kennedy led the squad with four assists and scored 15 points.
Brogna chipped in with 12 points and had a team leading three steals.
Merrimack forced 14 turnovers and scored 11 points off turnovers.
The squad also had 11 fast break points.

Doty was selected as the 2026 Championship MVP. Joining him on the MAAC All-Championship Team were teammates Shoats and Mulvey, and Kennedy and Tye Dorset from runner-up Merrimack. Additionally, Branden Benjamin from Fairfield University and Justin Menard from Marist University were named to the team.

Courtesy of maacsports.com

Final:
Merrimack - Siena

Semis:
Merrimack - Marist 58-57
Siena - Fairfield 63-58