The Siena Band plays during the Saints Quarterfinal win over Manhattan Saturday.

The Siena College pep band has risen to the occasion, giving the crowd a new source of energy as the Saints go for their 38th straight win at home Monday night.

The men’s basketball team weren’t the only group drawing up new plays for the MAAC tournament this weekend. Band conductor, Chris Farrell, introduced new elements to the pep band program that elevated the crowd to its highest levels this past weekend.

Farrell and his band combine with the Siena cheerleading squad to double the college’s spirit program presence. In recent games, the band has been experimenting with new song material. In order to provide more variety and play more recognizable music for the crowd, they have incorporated “All the Small Things” and “Just Dance” into their game repertoire.

Another famous song that will make its first appearance during the MAAC tournament is “Jump on it.” Farrell said his pep band has been to learning the added material quickly.

“All the members of the band have shown a lot of commitment,” Farrell said. “When you’re in the arena and the lights go down while we play our pregame set you can tell the energy of the crowd. You can just feel that energy, and it makes you want to play your heart out.”

It is that kind of energy that has inspired Siena’s runs to come back from both games at this year’s MAAC Tournament.

The pep band will be seen as the closest, and likely loudest, presence near the Siena bench tonight. While they don’t travel during the regular season, they would follow the team if they make it to the NCAA tournament.