Siena men’s basketball to battle Bucknell For McNamara homecoming

LOUDONVILLE, NY ( NEWS10 ) – In the final season of his decorated collegiate playing career, Scranton native Gerry McNamara and Syracuse played in front of his home crowd in Northeast Pennsylvania. And, in his first season as a head coach, McNamara will bring his new team back to that same arena for the venue’s first NCAA Division I men’s basketball game since. Siena Basketball will take on Bucknell in a neutral-site non-conference game presented by the Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau on Saturday, Nov. 30 at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania.

“I am so excited to bring Siena Basketball to compete in my hometown in my first year as head coach,” said McNamara. “The last time that a Division I men’s basketball game was played there was when we came my senior year at Syracuse and, in typical Northeast Pennsylvania fashion, more than 8,000 people showed up to support. It’s an incredible area of passionate sports fans, and those people helped raise me. Any chance I get to come back home is a blessing, but this opportunity is very special.”

The Siena-Bucknell matchup will mark the first NCAA Division I men’s basketball game played at the venue now known as Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in 19 years. Led by its star senior guard and hometown hero, Syracuse defeated Towson 86-52 on Dec. 27, 2005 before a crowd of 8,209, fueled by a 20-point, seven-assist, five-steal performance from McNamara.

The 8,300-seat Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza currently serves as the home of the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and has hosted the PIAA District 2 basketball championships for the past nine years.

Tip time for this year’s Siena-Bucknell matchup will be announced shortly, and tickets will go on-sale at a later date.

“This is a great day for basketball and collegiate athletics in Northeast PA and our region,” said Stephen Poremba, general manager of Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza. “Nineteen years ago, we welcomed our first NCAA Division I men’s basketball game to our venue featuring a sold-out crowd welcoming two of our area’s most decorated student athletes, Gerry McNamara and Tim Crossin. It’s been a long time coming for this day, and I am very proud of the efforts made by the representatives and administrators of both Bucknell University and Siena College along with our ASM Global team for this partnership. We look forward to welcoming some of the nation’s best student-athletes to our region this fall.”

A two-time Associated Press Pennsylvania State Player of the Year (2001, 2002) and the 2002 Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year, McNamara starred at Bishop Hannan (now known as Holy Cross) in Dunmore, Pennsylvania where he finished his high school career seventh all-time in scoring in Pennsylvania state history with 2,917 career points.

In addition to McNamara, this year’s Siena-Bucknell matchup will also serve as a homecoming for Saints newcomer Justice Shoats. A Pennsylvania Sports Writers Class 3A All-State Second Team honoree, Shoats hails from Wilkes-Barre where he starred for Holy Redeemer. Shoats, who matriculated to Siena this spring after spending his first two collegiate seasons at Division II Lock Haven in his native Pennsylvania, was also a three-time Times Leader All-WVC and two-time Player of the Year honoree in high school.

Siena and Bucknell are set to meet for the eighth time overall, including for the seventh time in the past 10 years. The Saints lead the all-time series 5-2, with the Bison capturing the most recent matchup, 65-56 in overtime on Nov. 28, 2021 in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

Bucknell is led by second-year head coach John Griffin III, who led the Bison to a 14-19 overall record in his first season, including a 10-8 mark in the Patriot League. Griffin grew up around Siena Basketball where his father, John Griffin, served as head coach from 1982-86, posting a 70-44 overall record.

“We are very excited to announce that we have finalized a game with Gerry McNamara and his Siena Basketball program,” said Griffin. “Our two programs boast strong followings and a rich history in college basketball. Gerry is a basketball icon in Scranton, having set numerous scoring records and winning a state championship during his high school days. I am confident that Gerry will excel in leading the Siena program, and I am thrilled that we were able to make this game a reality in his first year as a head coach. The Scranton community will undoubtedly show up to support the great Gerry Mac, and I think the fans will be treated to an outstanding college basketball game.”

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