ESPN Announces MAAC Wildcard Games for February 26
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – ESPN has announced the final three Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball wildcard matchups for February 26. On ESPN2, the first place Monmouth Hawks will welcome the Rider Broncs to West Long Branch, NJ for a 9:00 p.m. tip. The two-time defending MAAC Men’s Basketball Champion Manhattan Jaspers will take on the Iona Gaels on ESPNU at 7:00 p.m. in a rematch of the last three MAAC Basketball Championship games. On ESPN3, Quinnipiac heads to Poughkeepsie, NY to take on Marist for a 7:00 p.m. tip at McCann Arena.
The Hawks sit atop of the MAAC standings with a 10-2 conference mark and an 18-5 overall record. The Broncs are 5-7 in the MAAC and 9-14 overall. The game on the 26th will be the second meeting between the two schools as they face off for the first installment of the “hOUR-glass rivalry” on Friday, February 12 in Lawrenceville. Iona and Manhattan meet for the second time this season. The Gaels were victorious in its last matchup with the Jaspers back on January 29 in New Rochelle. The Jaspers are 6-5 in the MAAC and 9-11 overall while the Gaels are 9-3 in the MAAC and 12-9 overall. Quinnipiac and Marist will be meeting for the second time on the 26th as the two teams meet tomorrow, February 4 in Hamden. The Bobcats are 4-7 in the MAAC and 7-13 overall, while Marist is 1-10 in the MAAC and 4-16 overall.
The MAAC telecast schedule features an all-time high of 13 wildcard games during the 2015-16 season. The wildcard format allows ESPN to pick any game on schedule for the selected date to air on the designated platform (ESPN2, ESPNU, or ESPN3). ESPN will announce which game has been selected for the wildcard telecast 21 days out. The format enables the MAAC and ESPN flexibility to showcase the best possible matchups.
The 2015-16 MAAC season culminates at the 2016 MAAC Basketball Championships, March 3-7, at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York. The 2016 MAAC Championship title game will take place on Monday, March 7 at 7:00 p.m. and will air live on ESPN with the winner earning the leagues automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
For more information on MAAC men’s basketball, visits maacsports.com and remember to follow the conversation on social media using #MAACHoops and #MAAC35.