by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Jan 26, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: MVP Arena, Albany, NY
Where to watch: ESPNU
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Iona -6
FanDuel: NL
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: Iona -6
Season record
Iona: 13-6 (6-2 MAAC)
Siena: 13-7 (7-2 MAAC)
We’re nearing the halfway mark of the college basketball season and it’s been quite the ride so far. Will Rogers is going hard in the last 30 days with a 16-10-1 run, while Kyle Hunter has also had a strong run of form as of late at 28-24-0 (+$1,700). If they’ve been killing it as much as they were in the first half, what does the second half have in store? The only way you’re going to find out is by staying locked on bigal.com and following what our champion handicappers are up to heading into the second half. Trust us, you want to know.
Iona - Siena preview, prediction and analysis
Recent form
Iona: won 84-76 at Manhattan
Siena: lost 62-52 vs. Fairfield
In a matchup featuring the top two teams of the MAAC, the Iona Gaels will head to Albany, New York to take on the Siena Saints in a battle for conference supremacy on Friday.
This is the time of year where we start to take seriously the teams that we can see in March. And if they’re looking for one team to represent the MAAC, it’s likely going to come down to these two teams.
Iona is coming off an 84-76 overtime victory at Manhattan one week ago. Somehow, the overtime period seemed more exciting than the first two halves, but I digress. Walter Clayton Jr. led the way with 21 points, as all five starters for Iona scored. Berrick JeanLouis had 18 points on 6 of 10 shooting, Nelly Junior Joseph had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Daniss Jenkins had 14 points but took 21 shots to get there.
You didn’t really think that we weren’t going to get through a team without someone taking a bunch of shots, right?
This was a battle of defense, really. Iona was held to just 40.5 percent shooting while going just 6 of 21 from 3-point range. Yet the biggest difference was turning it over just 11 times. That helped, along with holding Ant Nelson to 3 of 17 shooting.
Siena, however, is coming off a 62-52 loss to the Fairfield Stags for their second loss in three games. This has all followed after a seven-game winning streak, so things are a bit rocky right now for Siena.
Andrew Platek had a game-high 15 points, but it was the only bit of offense that Siena could garner. The Saints shot 35.7% from the floor and went just 4 of 12 from 3-point range. Fairfield had just a bit more balanced scoring.
Siena’s success on the court has mirrored what it’s done against the spread. Both are 8-2 for Siena, including failing to cover as 5.5-point favorites against Fairfield. Iona has failed to cover its last four against the spread and are just 4-6 ATS in the last 10.
Prediction
Neither team has found some momentum as of late, but this game could be the springboard. There hasn’t even been a clear winner in the advantage of the series. Siena has won three of the last five, but Iona has covered three of the last four. The Saints go marching in. Siena 74, Iona 70
In a matchup featuring the top two teams of the MAAC, the Iona Gaels will head to Albany, New York to take on the Siena Saints in a battle for conference supremacy on Friday.
This is the time of year where we start to take seriously the teams that we can see in March. And if they’re looking for one team to represent the MAAC, it’s likely going to come down to these two teams.
Iona is coming off an 84-76 overtime victory at Manhattan one week ago. Somehow, the overtime period seemed more exciting than the first two halves, but I digress. Walter Clayton Jr. led the way with 21 points, as all five starters for Iona scored. Berrick JeanLouis had 18 points on 6 of 10 shooting, Nelly Junior Joseph had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Daniss Jenkins had 14 points but took 21 shots to get there.
You didn’t really think that we weren’t going to get through a team without someone taking a bunch of shots, right?
This was a battle of defense, really. Iona was held to just 40.5 percent shooting while going just 6 of 21 from 3-point range. Yet the biggest difference was turning it over just 11 times. That helped, along with holding Ant Nelson to 3 of 17 shooting.
Siena, however, is coming off a 62-52 loss to the Fairfield Stags for their second loss in three games. This has all followed after a seven-game winning streak, so things are a bit rocky right now for Siena.
Andrew Platek had a game-high 15 points, but it was the only bit of offense that Siena could garner. The Saints shot 35.7% from the floor and went just 4 of 12 from 3-point range. Fairfield had just a bit more balanced scoring.
Siena’s success on the court has mirrored what it’s done against the spread. Both are 8-2 for Siena, including failing to cover as 5.5-point favorites against Fairfield. Iona has failed to cover its last four against the spread and are just 4-6 ATS in the last 10.
Prediction
Neither team has found some momentum as of late, but this game could be the springboard. There hasn’t even been a clear winner in the advantage of the series. Siena has won three of the last five, but Iona has covered three of the last four. The Saints go marching in. Siena 74, Iona 70
Betting trends
Iona is 2-10 ATS as a road favorite of 6.5 to 12 points the last 3 seasons.
Iona is 7-0 ATS when playing with 5 or 6 days the last 3 seasons.
Siena is 6-3 ATS as an underdog this season.
Siena is 10-3 ATS after losing 2 of 3 games the last 3 seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Iona:
PG: Cruz Davis
SG: Daniss Jenkins
SF: Berrick JeanLouis
PF: Nelly Joseph
C: Osborn Shema
Siena:
PG: Michael Eley
SG: Andrew Platek
SF: Michael Baer
PF: Jared Billups
C: Jackson Stormo
Statistical leaders
Iona:
Points: Daniss Jenkins -- 16.3
Rebounds: Nelly Joseph -- 8.7
Assists: Daniss Jenkins -- 4.8
Siena:
Points: Javian McCollum -- 15.8
Rebounds: Jared Billups -- 6.7
Assists: Javian McCollum -- 3.8
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
