League Play Resumes for MAAC Men's Basketball this Week
MAAC Sports
EDISON, N.J. – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball teams resume league play this week with five games on Friday, Jan. 2 and four contests on Sunday, Jan. 4.
The January conference slate kicks off with Quinnipiac hosting Saint Peter’s in Hamden, Connecticut, at 4 p.m. on Friday. Both the Bobcats and the Peacocks are looking to win their first MAAC game of the season, as both teams currently hold 0-2 records. Quinnipiac finished as one of four league teams with a winning overall record at 6-5, highlighted by a three-game win streak to close out its 2014 schedule, while Saint Peter’s concludes 2014 on a two game win streak compiling a 6-7 record.
The remaining four games on Friday begin at 7 p.m., highlighted by Canisius and Monmouth meeting at Koessler Athletic Center in Buffalo, New York. The Golden Griffins and the Hawks are the matchup of the day as both teams are currently undefeated in MAAC games and sit in a three-way tie for first place in the conference standings alongside Fairfield with 2-0 records. Canisius is riding a three game win streak, and also earned victories in its last five out of six contest posting an overall winning mark of 7-4. Monmouth owns a 5-7 record, dropping its last two games after posting an even 5-5 mark.
Meeting at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut, are top ranked Fairfield and Siena. The Stags enter the contest undefeated in conference play at 2-0, while the Saints hold an even 1-1 league mark. Fairfield has dropped its last three contests and close out 2014 with a 4-8 record, while Siena enters Friday’s game with a 4-7 overall mark following a 73-71 win over Bucknell (Dec. 28), which snapped a four-game skid.
Manhattan visits the Gallagher Center to take on Niagara. The Jaspers and Purple Eagles both hold .500 records at 1-1 in MAAC play, after dropping their meetings with current unbeaten league teams. Manhattan sits at 4-7, winning three of its last five games after starting the season at 1-5. Niagara currently holds a 2-8 record, snapping a seven-game skid with a 65-47 win over Albany to close out 2014.
Closing out the 7 p.m. games are Marist and Rider in Poughkeepsie, New York. The Red Foxes, which are 0-2 in conference games, welcome the 1-1 Broncs to McCann Arena. Marist closed out the 2014 calendar year at 1-11, while Rider posted an overall record of 7-6. The Broncs enter 2015 on a high note after earning victories in five of its last six games, including the final three of the year.
The schedule for Sunday, Jan. 4 includes, Manhattan at Canisius, Iona at Siena, and Monmouth at Niagara, all tipping at 2 p.m. Marist at Saint Peter’s is set to tip at 3 p.m. Iona sits at 1-1 in conference play and currently owns the league’s most wins with an 8-5 mark. The Gaels earned wins at ACC foe Wake Forest and against Mid-Major Top 25 Florida Gulf Coast in 2014, while three of their five losses came in one possession games.
Heading into 2015
The quartet of Canisius (4-0), Iona (5-0), Manhattan (2-0), and Rider (4-0), all have unblemished home records.
Team National Rankings
Canisius ranks 22nd in fewest turnovers and 23rd in turnover margin.
Iona ranks first in three-point field goal percentage, second in total three-pointers made, fourth in three-point field goals per game, eighth in scoring offense, 12th in three-point attempts, 15th in assists per game, and 24th in total assists.
Niagara ranks 25th in fewest turnovers.
Quinnipiac leads the country in rebound margin and total rebounds per game, second in offensive rebounds per game, fifth in free-throw percentage, 12th in defensive rebounds per game, and 15th in blocked shots per game.
Siena ranks 12th nationally in turnover margin, 14th in turnovers per game and fewest turnovers, and 21st in assists to turnover ratio.
Individual National Rankings
Iona’s junior guard A.J. English ranks second in points per game, fifth in total points, ninth in made free-throws, 13th in three-point field goals per game and total three-pointers made, 15th in three-point attempts, and 21st in free-throw attempts. Senior forward David Laury ranks 24th in double-doubles.
Quinnipiac’s senior forward Ousmane Drame ranks fifth in double-doubles, ninth in defensive rebounds per game, 10th in both blocks per game and rebounds per game, 17th in total blocked shots, and 21st in total rebounds.
Saint Peter’s senior forward Marvin Dominique ranks 24th in total rebounds.
Siena sophomore guard Marquis Wright ranks 25th in assists per game.
For the full men’s basketball schedule, visits maacsports.com and remember to follow the conversation on twitter using #MAACHoops and #MAACHoops15.