Louis Orr coached the team for one season ( 20-11 ) before leaving for Seton Hall University . Siena then hired Rob Lanier , an assistant under Rick Barnes at University of Texas . In Lanier 's first year Siena struggled through a brutal regular season going 12-18 . However the team went on to win the MAAC championship on their home floor and become the first team since Bradley in 1955 to win an NCAA Tournament game with a losing record as they defeated Alcorn State 81-77 in the play in game . Siena would gain an NIT berth in 2003 , going 21-11 and beating Big East member Providence along the way . They defeated Villanova and Western Michigan in the NIT before being eliminated by Alabama-Birmingham . Lanier 's final two years brought much frustration among Siena fans . In 2003-04 , Siena started off 3-0 only to lose their next 10 games and finish the season a disappointing 14-16 . Lanier 's final year saw an injury-plagued Siena team finish with a program worst 24 losses and he was fired after that season
Big East
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
Siena Saints men's basketball