Hiram vs Canisius prediction: Canisius debuts a rebuilt roster against Division III Hiram
With almost nobody back from a 10-21 team, Canisius's second home game is a look at whether Vinny Sigona and a wave of transfers can fix last season's offense.
- Canisius should control a Division III opponent; the real question is how its almost entirely new rotation shares the ball.
- Watch Vinny Sigona's shooting: he hit 40.1% from three at East Texas A&M last season.
- No line has been posted yet; last season Canisius ranked 345th of 365 in adjusted net efficiency.
A roster built from scratch
Jim Christian is still the coach, but almost none of his players are holdovers. Canisius returns 0.2% of last season's minutes, so the 10-21 record from 2025-26 says little about this group. Kahlil Singleton (13.9 points per game) left for New Orleans, and Bryan Ndjonga (also 13.9) went to Stony Brook.
The replacements are transfers. Preist Ryan started 24 games at Cleveland State and has one year of eligibility left. Michael Wilson Jr. arrives from Bellarmine with two. Freshmen Alex Mack, a 6-foot-4 guard, and Abu Riak, a 6-foot-8 forward, round out the newcomers.
The offense needs shooters
Last season's problem was scoring. Canisius ranked 357th of 365 in adjusted offensive efficiency (points per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponents). Its effective field goal percentage, which counts threes as 1.5 makes, sat 352nd.
Sigona is the clearest fix. He made 63 threes at East Texas A&M last season and shot 87.5% at the line. Clinton Efinda added 38.5% from deep at UNC Greensboro. Against a Division III defense, this is a chance for those shooters to find a rhythm before the schedule stiffens.
Second game in three days
Canisius opens its home slate Saturday, Nov. 7 against St. Bonaventure, two days before Hiram visits Koessler Athletic Center. That makes this game a quick turnaround from the St. Bonaventure opener at home. Nothing on injuries or eligibility has surfaced for either team. Hiram's 2026-27 roster had not been published, so its lineup is unknown.
Key players
- Vinny Sigona (Canisius): He shot 40.1% from three on 157 attempts last season.
- Preist Ryan (Canisius): He started 24 of 31 games last season and averaged 7.2 points.
- Clinton Efinda (Canisius): He posted a 112.9 offensive rating last season off the bench.
- Michael Wilson Jr. (Canisius): He carried a 23.5% usage rate at Bellarmine last season.
Numbers that matter
| Returning minutes | 0.2% | Canisius brings back almost nothing from last season, so old team numbers are a weak guide. |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted offense rank, last season | 357th | The scoring problem this transfer class was recruited to solve. |
| Sigona 3-point %, last season | 40.1% | The best shooting mark among the newcomers on real volume. |
| Last season record | 10-21 | Built by a roster that has almost entirely turned over. |
Hiram vs Canisius: quick answers
When is Hiram vs Canisius?
Monday, November 9, 2026 at 6:00 PM ET.