St. Bonaventure takes on Siena tonight in the Franciscan Cup, with this year’s matchup set to tip off in Albany, New York. After a dominant 89-56 victory over the Saints last season at the Reilly Center, the Bonnies aim to retain the trophy, while Siena looks to bounce back and reclaim the trophy.
The Saints, led by junior guard Justice Shoats, enter the game with a 5-5 record and the motivation to stage an upset. On the other side, the red-hot Bonnies boast a 10-1 record, fueled by the standout performances of junior Chance Moore and seniors Noel Brown and Melvin Council Jr.
St. Bonaventure has been gaining national recognition, earning two votes in this week’s AP Top 25 poll and solidifying their spot as a top-50 team in the country. They currently rank No. 17 in the Mid-Major Basketball Top 25.
Although the Bonnies hold the Franciscan Cup after last year’s win, Siena pulled off an upset in 2022 with a 76-70 victory. The two Franciscan sister schools will meet for the 45th time overall and the 14th time since the introduction of the Franciscan Cup trophy in 2010. St. Bonaventure holds an 8-5 edge in the Franciscan Cup series, with home teams winning five straight and seven of the last eight.
