Metro Conference

March 3, 2011 - The MAAC Championships Have Arrived in Bridgeport

2010 MAAC Basketball Championships Set New League Attendance Record

Yesterday, we celebrated Siena’s three consecutive MAAC Championship behind the great class of Ronald Moore, Edwin Ubiles and Alex Franklin and other notables such as Kenny Hasbrouck and Ryan Rossiter.  Two days ago we celebrated Marist winning five straight MAAC women’s basketball titles led by three-time MAAC Player of the Year Rachele Fitz, Julianne Vianni, and Erica Allenspach.  These memorable runs played out before consecutive years of record crowds for the MAAC Basketball Championships. 

50,820 fans attended the 2009 Citizens Bank MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships exceeding the old record of 50,620 set in 2000 at the Times Union Center.

Immediately after the tournament MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor noted:“It is interesting to note that no single game set a record for attendance, rather each of the individual men's and women's sessions increased incrementally to establish the new overall record. We are grateful to all of the MAAC schools and their fans, and the residents of the Albany region for supporting this year’s sensational championship tournament.”

The 2009 tournament is remembered for great games such Niagara’s thrilling double overtime semifinal win over Rider, which included Tyrone Lewis’ dramatic three pointer late in regulation to force overtime.  Marist, behind tournament MVP Julianne Vianni captured its fourth straight MAAC crown; while Siena senior Kenny Hasbrouck led the Saints to their second straight crown knocking off Niagara in the championship game.

The success of 2009 led to even greater crowds in 2010.  53,569 passed through the turnstiles at the Times Union Center in Albany .  Once again it was the Marist women taking home the title defeating Fairfield in the final as Rachele Fitz captured tournament MVP honors after winning her third consecutive MAAC Player of the Year. 

10,679 enjoyed a thrilling MAAC Final as Siena rallied from a 13 point second half deficit to edge Fairfield 72-65 in overtime. The Saints Alex Franklin was named MVP and Siena matched LaSalle as the only two MAAC teams to ever win three straight MAAC men’s titles.

Siena Becomes Second Men's Team to Win Three Straight MAAC Titles

In 2007, Siena and head coach Fran McCaffery advanced to the MAAC Championship Game, but lost a close contest to Niagara in Bridgeport, Conn. The Saints haven't lost a MAAC Tournament game since that night.

Siena entered the 2007-08 season knowing the MAAC Tournament would be played on its home court at the Times Union Center in Albany. The Saints finished their league schedule with a 13-5 record, the same mark as Rider. Siena entered the tournament as the #1 seed with its sights set on the program's first conference title since 2002, however, things looked grim midway through the semifinal meeting with Loyola. The Greyhounds led by as many as 17 in the first half and took a 10 point lead into the half. It took almost the entire second half for Siena to pull even, but eventually tied the game at 63-63 with just over a minute to play. Josh Duell then became the unlikely hero as he scored his only points of the game with 19.4 seconds remaining to give Siena a 65-63 win. The Saints would meet Rider and MAAC Player of the Year Jason Thompson in the Championship Game. This one wouldn't be nearly as close as senior Tay Fisher drained six 3-pointers to carry Siena to a 74-53 victory.

In 2009, Siena got a chance to avenge the 2007 loss to Niagara as the two teams met again for the championship. The Saints entered the game with a 16-0 record on their home court. Despite a poor first half, senior Kenny Hasbrouck, the Player of the Year, led Siena with 19 points as they topped the Purple Eagles, 77-70.

The senior trio of point guard Ronald Moore and forwards Edwin Ubiles and Alex Franklin, plus junior center Ryan Rossiter, made Siena overwhelming favorites entering the 2009-10 season. The Saints lived up to expectations during the regular season with a 17-1 conference record. However, Siena did not make things easy at the MAAC Championship as it trailed at halftime in all three games. In the end the Saints' talent and experience, plus a raucous crowd at the Times Union Center, proved too much for their opponents. Siena beat Manhattan, Rider, and Fairfield, 75-62 in overtime, to claim its third straight MAAC crown.

Siena will try to become the first MAAC men's team to win four straight conference titles this weekend at the 2011 Spark Energy MAAC Men's Basketball Championship at Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard, the site of the Saints last tournament loss.

Marist Women Win Record Fifth Straight MAAC Championship

When Brian Giorgis took over the Marist women's basketball program prior to the 2002-03 season, the Red Foxes had never won more than 11 games in a season since joining the MAAC in 1997-98 and had also never won a game in the MAAC Tournament.

Nine years later Marist has won six MAAC Championships and three NCAA Tournament games, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2007. Marist's overall record during the span is 221-64, with an even more impressive 136-26 in league games. During this stretch of dominance, Marist became the first MAAC team, men's or women's, to win four consecutive conference titles. In 2010 the Red Foxes extended the record by winning their fifth straight tournament.

Marist won the 2004 title game over Canisius, 76-74, for its first MAAC Championship. Canisius avenged the loss in 2005 with a 60-59 victory over Marist in the championship game. Since then Marist is 15-0 in the MAAC Tournament.

Marist started its historic run with a 68-57 win over Loyola in 2006. Center Meg Dahlman led the way with 15 points and 11 rebounds and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

In 2007, Marist received its biggest scare during the streak as they needed overtime to beat Iona, 64-57, and win its second straight championship. Rachele Fitz, a freshman on that team, was named MVP after scoring 19 points against Iona.

Marist, coming off an 18-0 regular season, met the Gaels again in 2008, although this game wasn't as close as the Red Foxes cruised to an 83-63 win.

Canisius, the last team to beat Marist in a MAAC Tournament game, was the opponent in 2009, but the Golden Griffins didn't fare much better as Marist won by 15.

Last season, Marist took on Fairfield in the title game and came away with a 66-49 victory. Fitz, a three-time MAAC Player of the Year, capped off her stellar career with her second Tournament MVP honor.

Marist, currently ranked #21 in the Associated Press Poll and #18 in the ESPN Coaches Poll, finished the 2010-11 regular season with an 18-0 conference record (27-2 overall). The Red Foxes will begin their quest for a sixth straight championship on Friday, March 4 at the 2011 Spark Energy MAAC Basketball Championships.

Moore Lifts Siena to Double Overtime Victory over Ohio State in 2009 NCAA Tournament

In 2009, Siena College won its second consecutive MAAC men's basketball championship title and a trip to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. The Saints (26-7) earned the ninth seed in the Midwest Region and were set to play eighth-seeded Ohio State (22-10) in the first round of the tournament in Dayton, Ohio.

The first 40 minutes were highly contested between the MAAC Champion and the Big Ten powerhouse. MAAC Player of the Year Kenny Hasbrouck knocked in two key free throws with just eight seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 56-all and send the first-round contest into overtime.

With the Buckeyes owning a 65-62 lead in the final seconds of the first overtime, junior guard Ronald Moore brought the ball down the court and hit a three-pointer with less than four seconds left to play to force a second overtime for the Saints. Prior to that shot, Moore was 0-4 from behind the arc.

As fate would have it, the final seconds of the second overtime mirrored the first. Moore hit another three, from almost the same spot as the first, to give Siena a 74-72 double overtime victory over Ohio State.

Moore's two clutch jumpers advanced Siena into Sunday's second round where the Saints met Louisville, the tournament's top team.

Watch game highlights courtesy of CBS Sports.

Niagara's Lewis Banks in 3-Pointer to Send 2009 MAAC Semifinal Game against Rider into Overtime

In the 2009 Citizens Bank MAAC Men's Basketball Championship, the final four teams to play in Sunday's semifinals were top-seeded Siena College against fifth-seeded Fairfield University and second-seeded Niagara University versus third-seeded Rider University.

In the first semifinal, Siena earned an 80-65 win over Fairfield to advance to the title game on Monday night. The second contest between the Purple Eagles and the Broncs would not be decided so easily.

After nearly 40 minutes of hard work by both teams, Rider seemed to have the game in hand after Novar Gadson broke away for a dunk with 17 seconds to play in regulation. But Tyrone Lewis banked in a three-pointer from about 30 feet over two defenders that tied the game at 71-all with 1.7 seconds to go.

In the first overtime, Niagara pushed to a six-point lead with 70 seconds to go but could not hold it. Rider tied it at 80 on Ryan Thompson's lay-in to set up the second overtime. In the second extra stanza, Bilal Benn stole the ball from Thompson with Niagara clinging to a 91-89 lead in the final seconds that locked up the win for the Purple Eagles. Niagara walked away with a 93-89 double overtime victory over Rider.

Benn scored 20 points and grabbed 19 rebounds for the Purple Eagles. Benson Egemonye added 22 points and added 11 rebounds, and Anthony Nelson had 21 points.

Thompson had 27 points and 12 rebounds for the Broncs, who also got 20 points and 12 rebounds from Mike Ringgold.

The win sent Niagara to the title game for the third time in five years.

Rider's Jason Thompson Chosen by Sacramento Kings in First Round of 2008 NBA Draft

On June 26, 2008, Rider University forward Jason Thompson was chosen by the Sacramento Kings as the 12^th overall pick in the NBA Draft. He became the second MAAC player to be a lottery selection in the NBA Draft, as Lionel Simmons from La Salle University was also drafted by the Kings as the seventh pick in 1990.

Thompson was not in attendance at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden during the draft. He was at his home in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, with his parents, grandparents, and brother and fellow Bronc Ryan when he learned where he would be playing basketball next.  Thompson later joined his family and friends in a local restaurant in Marlton, N.J. to celebrate the next steps that awaited him in his basketball career. The NJ Star Ledger covered the memorable evening for Thompson and Rider.

Here is a look at the analysis of Thompson's selection by the Kings on ESPN:

Thompson has enjoyed a bright start to his NBA career. In 206 games, 150 of them starts, he's averaging 11.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. His career statistics can be seen here.

Marist Women Become First MAAC Team to Go 18-0

With memories of the dramatic Sweet 16 run still fresh on the mind, expectations were high in Poughkeepsie entering the 2007-08 season. The Red Foxes returned four starters - senior guard Nikki Flores, senior center Meg Dahlman, junior guard Julianne Viani, and sophomore forward Rachele Fitz, the reigning Rookie of the Year - as well as sophomore Lynzee Johnson, one of the best bench players in the conference. Head Coach Brian Giorgis also brought in a top recruiting class, which included Ohio All-State honoree Erica Allenspach and Canada's High School Player of the Year Elise Caron.

Marist's schedule started with a huge test at then-#16 Ohio State, which Buckeyes won 63-57. The Red Foxes rebounded from the season opening defeat and rattled off 10 straight victories, including wins over Utah and Nebraska. In mid-December Marist lost to Hartford in a battle between two mid-major powerhouses. It would be their last loss in the regular season. The Red Foxes added two more non-conference victories and then stormed through their MAAC schedule, winning league contests by almost 18 points per game. Marist then defeated Canisius, Saint Peter's and Iona in the MAAC Tournament for its third straight conference championship. This gave the Red Foxes a perfect 21-0 mark against league opponents for the 2007-08 season.  

Marist, which entered the NCAA Tournament with a 31-2 record and a #7 seed, added another postseason victory to its resume in 2008, defeating DePaul in the first round for its 22nd consecutive win. However, a return trip to the Sweet 16 was not on the cards as the Red Foxes fell to second-seeded LSU, a Final Four participant, on their home court.

Marist was rewarded with four major award winners - Fitz earned her first of three MAAC Player of the Year awards, Giorgis was named Coach of the Year, Johnson claimed Sixth Player of the Year honors, and Allenspach was voted the league's Rookie of the Year.

Saint Peter's is the only other MAAC women's team to finish a home-and-home round-robin schedule undefeated, going 14-0 in 1996-97. Marist and Rider joined the MAAC the following year. Saint Peter's also went a perfect 5-0 during the inaugural 1981-82 campaign.

On the men's side, La Salle finished the regular season undefeated on two separate occasions. In 1986-87, the Explorers went a perfect 14-0. Two seasons later La Salle went 16-0 in the 12-team MAAC, which was divided into North and South divisions.

#21 Marist will attempt to duplicate the feat this weekend as they head into the final two games of the regular season with a 16-0 conference record.

Marist Women Become First MAAC Team to Advance to Sweet 16

Marist, led by head coach Brian Giorgis, entered the 2006-07 season having won two of the last three MAAC Championships. The Red Foxes continued their success by going 17-1 in conference play to earn the top seed at the MAAC Tournament. After cruising to wins over Manhattan and Siena, Marist met #2 seed and preseason favorites Iona in the Championship Game. Junior Meg Dahlman had 21 points and eight rebounds, freshman Rachele Fitz had 19 points and eight boards, and senior Julianne Viani added 12 points to lead the Red Foxes to their third victory of the season over the Gaels, 64-57 in overtime.

In their two previous trips to the NCAA Tournament, the Red Foxes received a #14 seed and lost by double digits to heavy favorites Oklahoma and Georgia. This time Marist was given a #13 seed and a first round matchup with fourth-seeded Ohio State in Palo Alto, Cal. Viani led the way with 24 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead Marist to a 67-63 upset of the Buckeyes. It was the programs first NCAA Tournament win and just the second by a MAAC women's team. Here's a second New York Times article that discusses Marist's upset. Watch the postgame press conference with Giorgis, Viani, and Fitz.

Next up for Marist would be fifth-seeded Middle Tennessee State, who entered the second round contest having won 27 straight games, the most in the nation. Nikki Flores scored 21 points, while senior point guard Alisa Kresge handled Middle Tennessee's press and distributed nine assists for the Red Foxes second straight upset and a trip to the Sweet 16. The win made Marist just the third #13 seed to advance to the Sweet 16 in women's basketball history. Watch the postgame press conference with Giorgis, Viani, Flores, and Kresge.

Marist's dream run came to an end against #1 Tennessee, the eventual national champion. HV Media Group created this short video chronicling the trip to the Sweet 16 and the match-up with the Lady Volunteers. The Sweet 16 run earned the Red Foxes a #22 ranking in the final Associated Press poll.

Here's a look at various websites during Marist's cinderella run (the New York Times image links to the article:

Marist's Jared Jordan Named MVP of Inaugural Old Spice Classic

In 2006, the MAAC joined ESPN in hosting the Old Spice Classic, an eight-team tournament featuring men's basketball programs from power and mid-major conferences competing during Thanksgiving week at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex (now ESPN Wide World of Sports). In the inaugural tournament, the teams included Arkansas (SEC), Minnesota (Big Ten), Montana (Big Sky), Southern Illinois (Missouri Valley), Virginia Tech (ACC), West Virginia (Big East), Western Michigan (Mid-American) and representing the MAAC as the host conference - Marist College.

The Red Foxes, the preseason favorite in the MAAC, faced the Gophers of Minnesota in the first round of the championship on Thanksgiving Day. James Smith scored 16 points and Will Whittington added 14 to lead Marist to a 63-56 victory. Smith also had 13 rebounds as Marist held on after Minnesota trimmed a 13-point deficit to two early in the second half. Smith's basket started a 13-5 spurt that turned a 35-33 edge into a 48-38 advantage. Minnesota made one more run, but could not get closer than three the rest of the way. Smith made a layup and two free throws to put Marist up 52-45 with seven minutes left, then Ryan Stilphen made a pair of key baskets to keep Minnesota from getting close down the stretch. Lawrence McKenzie led Minnesota with 17 points, but was only 3-of-12 on 3-point attempts. The Golden Gophers missed 22 of 31 shots from beyond the arc and shot 34 percent overall while being outrebounded 42-39. MAAC Preseason Player of the Year Jared Jordan and Ben Farmer scored 11 apiece for Marist.

The next day, Jordan paced the Red Foxes with 21 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, but it was not enough as Marist fell to eventual Old Spice Classic champion Arkansas, 73-64. Smith scored 18 points and Whittington had 10 for the Red Foxes. Arkansas held a 22-19 halftime lead despite making only 28 percent of its shots, while Marist hit 32 percent from the field before the break. The Razorbacks more than doubled their accuracy in the second half with 58 percent shooting.

In the third-place game on Sunday, Jordan scored 30 points and Whittington added 16 to lead Marist to an 89-78 victory over Western Michigan. Marist broke the contest open with an 18-2 run early in the second half. Western Michigan trailed by as many as 21, but Andre Ricks scored seven of his 16 points in 36 seconds to make it 81-73 with just under two minutes remaining. The teams were tied six times in the first half before Jordan, who also had nine assists, scored 10 consecutive points for the Red Foxes in a 13-5 run that put them ahead for good.

Despite the fact that Marist had not reached the tournament championship game, Jordan was named the Most Valuable Player after averaging 20.7 points, 9.0 assists and 6.3 rebounds over the three days in Orlando. His 30 points against Western Michigan ties him with two other players (Michael Beasley from Kansas State, twice, in 2007; Devan Downey from South Carolina in 2007) for the most points by an individual in a single game at the Old Spice Classic. Jordan continues to hold the tournament record for most assists throughout the event with 27.

Saint Peter's Keydren Clark Scores 3,000 Career Points

Many notable basketball players have walked through the halls of the Yanitelli Center in the past 30 years. One of the most memorable of that group is Keydren Clark, a guard at Saint Peter's College from 2002 to 2006.

In the 2002-03 season, Clark averaged 24.9 points per game, leading all freshmen in Division I men's basketball. As a sophomore, he averaged 26.7 points per game, and in the 2004-05 season, he averaged 25.8 points per game. For those two seasons, Clark led the nation in points scored per game, becoming just the eighth player to repeat as NCAA Division I scoring champion.  

Clark had definitely made his mark in the record books at Saint Peter's, the MAAC and the NCAA.  But there was one more achievement waiting for him in his senior campaign.

For the 2005-06 season, the Peacocks went 9-9 in the MAAC, giving them the number five seed in the 2006 Citizens Bank MAAC Basketball Championship.  In the first round, the Peacocks earned an 80-51 win over 10th-seeded Rider. With their sights on reaching the finals, the Peacocks had to get past Siena, the number four seed in the tournament.  The Saints entered that game with a 10-2 mark on their home court, the then Pepsi Arena.

Saint Peter's led by as many as 10 points in the first half against Siena, and enjoyed a seven-point lead at the half (28-21).  But the Saints fought back and tied the contest at 58-58 with 1:36 left to play.  The lead would seesaw back and forth, until Clark took control during the final possession. He went coast to coast and knocked in a short jumper with 11 seconds remaining to give Saint Peter's a 63-62 victory over Siena. Clark finished with a game-high 22 points, including his 3,000 collegiate career point.

That night, Clark joined the elite group of Pete Maravich of LSU (3,667), Freeman Williams of Portland State (3,249), Lionel Simmons of La Salle (3,217), Alphonso Ford of Mississippi Valley State (3,165), Harry Kelly of Texas Southern (3,066), and Hersey Hawkins of Bradley (3,008) as the only seven players to ever score over 3,000 points in their college careers.

Clark, who finished his college career with 3,058 points, is the all-time leading scorer at Saint Peter's and in New Jersey collegiate history. He is second in the MAAC in total points scored (behind Simmons) and first in points per game (25.9 ppg). Clark was a two-time MAAC Player of the Year and was a Haggerty Award winner.

For a look back at the memorable contest, you can read an article by New York Times' Pete Thamel.

Manhattan Upsets Florida in the First Round of the NCAA Championship

In the 2003-04 season, the Manhattan College men's basketball team finished in first place in the league standings with a record of 16-2 in conference play. The Jaspers earned the top seed for the 2004 MAAC Championship, which entitled them to a double bye into the semifinals. Manhattan used the extra day to its advantage, taking an 83-72 win over #4 Saint Peter's in the semifinals, and then a 62-61 victory over #2 Niagara to claim its second straight and third overall MAAC crown.

The Jaspers were now making their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Championship. In 2003, Manhattan was the 14 seed in the East Regional, and fell short of upsetting third-seeded Syracuse University (the eventual National Champion) with a 76-65 loss at the FleetCenter in Boston.  This time, Manhattan was a #12 seed in the East Rutherford Regional, and was set to face the #5 seeded University of Florida in the first round at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. The Jaspers, led by head coach Bobby Gonzalez, were ready to make some noise in the Big Dance, especially two-time MAAC Player of the Year Luis Flores.

And Flores did just that, recording a game-high 26 points to lead Manhattan to a 75-60 victory over Florida. Peter Mulligan finished with 17 points and Dave Holmes had 12 points and 12 rebounds. Florida's best inside player, David Lee, was held to just seven points. Matt Walsh finished with 13 points for the Gators. Anthony Roberson led them with 22 points, but most came after the game was out of reach. The Gators finished 20-11, and had been ranked first in the country in December that season. It was the Jaspers' first NCAA win since defeating Oklahoma in 1995.

Manhattan was the toast of the Big Apple after its upset of Florida, with former New York Mayor and Manhattan graduate Rudy Giuliani calling to congratulate Coach Gonzalez.

Here are some more articles following Manhattan's first round victory:

New York Post | USA Today column on Flores | Photo from Life Magazine

The next stop was the second round and there waiting for Manhattan was the number four seed, Wake Forest University. The Deacons narrowly advanced following a 79-78 win over Virginia Commonwealth in the first round.  On the line for both teams - a spot in the Sweet 16 at the Meadowlands, a little over 15 miles from Manhattan's campus. 

This contest would pit point guard against point guard - Manhattan's senior floor general Flores against Wake Forest freshman Chris Paul. Sadly for Jasper fans, youth won out over experience in that contest as Paul had 29 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lift Wake Forest past Manhattan, 84-80. He  went 10-for-14 from the floor and 8-for-9 from the line. Paul also had three steals and two blocks with just one turnover in 38 minutes. Luis Flores had 20 points, going 8-for-17 from the field and 2-for-6 from three-point range.  Holmes added 19 points and eight rebounds for the Jaspers.

Article in by Dick "Hoops" Weiss in NY Daily News | LA Times

Saint Peter's Mike Granelli Registers 600th Career Win

On January 15, 2004, Saint Peter's women's basketball head coach Mike Granelli became the first MAAC basketball coach to reach 600 career wins with a 73-61 victory over Fairfield. The box score from that historic night can be seen here.

Granelli coached the Peahens from 1972-2004 and finished with a career record of 607-249. He won nine MAAC Championships, took the Peahens to seven NCAA Tournaments, and earned the conference's Coach of the Year award five times. Granelli is one of 20 coaches to win 600 games at the Division I level and one of just six to do so at the same school.

This article from HudsonReporter.com provides a detailed background of Granelli's career at Saint Peter's.

MAAC Competes in ESPN BracketBusters

In honor of today's BracketBusters Saturday, let's retell the MAAC's history in the annual event.

The MAAC first ventured into BracketBusters during the 2003-04 season as preseason favorite and defending champion Manhattan agreed to participate. A banner campaign for the Jaspers earned them a trip to play at Wisconsin-Milwaukee who was coached by Bruce Pearl. The Jaspers made the most of the contest televised on ESPN2 as Luis Flores scored 27 points to lead Manhattan to a critical road win. 

In 2005, Fairfield and Manhattan would enter the field, but neither was picked for television. In 2006 the MAAC began its annual commitment of full participation as all ten schools entered the BracketBusters field. In all, three eventual MAAC champions that would win NCAA Tournament first round games foreshadowed their "Bracket Busting" by posting a key win in the BracketBusters event that February. Here is a rundown of the TV games earned by MAAC teams:

2004
Manhattan at Wisconsin-Milwaukee - ESPN2 (W, 83-76)

2006
Iona vs. Buffalo - ESPN360.com (W, 93-75)
Marist at Old Dominion - ESPNU (L, 71-84)

2008
Rider at Cal-State Northridge - ESPNU (W, 73-72)
Siena at Boise State - ESPN360.com (W, 93-70)
Marist at Cleveland State - ESPNU (L, 44-59)

2009
Northern Iowa at Siena - ESPN2 (W, 81-75)
Illinois State at Niagara - ESPN2 (W, 70-56)
Hofstra at Fairfield - ESPN3.com (L, 56-61)

2010
Siena at Butler - ESPN2 (L, 53-70)
William & Mary at Iona - ESPNU (W, 69-53)

2011
Austin Peay at Fairfield - EPSNU
Iona at Liberty - ESPNU

This link gives you a complete history of ESPN BracketBusters.

Tri-Regular Season Champions Highlight a Wild 2000-01 Season

One of the best races in MAAC men's basketball history was the 2000-01 season that saw six teams finish within one game of first place. The standings heading into the MAAC Tournament read:

The tournament was played at HSBC Arena in Buffalo. Despite six teams within one game of each other at the top of the standings, only Iona made it to the Championship game. Canisius under head coach Mike MacDonald delighted the hometown Buffalo crowd by winning three straight games, including a memorable 72-70 upset over arch-rival Niagara in the quarterfinals before a crowd of over 6,800. Clive Bentick tipped his own missed shot setting off a wild celebration for the upset win. The Golden Griffins would then beat Siena the following day. Ultimately, Iona would win its third MAAC Crown in four years behind MAAC Tournament MVP Miller.

Here are three articles chronicling Iona's second straight championship:

Wilson Helps Iona Survive MAAC Quarterfinals (NY Times)

NCAA Bid At Stake; Iona Plays Canisius (NY Times)

Gaels Earn Trip to NCAAs (USA Today)

Record-Setting Attendance at 2000 MAAC Men's Basketball Final

MAAC fans are always eager for the annual championships, looking forward to getting a ticket up close to the action as they support their favorite team. But on March 6, 2000, a record single-game crowd attended a men's basketball championship final that would be remembered for many years to come.

During the 1999-2000 season, Siena College, host of the 2000 HSBC MAAC Tournament at the then Pepsi Arena, finished first in the league standings with a 15-3 mark and an 11-0 record on the its home court. Iona College took second place, going 13-5 during the regular season.

The Saints, with 2000 MAAC Coach of the Year Paul Hewitt at the helm, were led by senior forward Marcus Faison, a unanimous selection to the 2000 All-MAAC First Team, and senior forward Corey Osinski, a member of the All-MAAC Second Team. Senior forward Jim Cantamessa earned a spot on the All-MAAC Third Team, while freshman forward/center Michael Burhman was named to the All-Rookie Team.

The Gaels, under the guidance of head coach Jeff Ruland, were led by 2000 MAAC Player of the Year Tariq Kirksay, who averaged 19.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game during the regular season. Joining Kirksay for postseason honors were junior center Nakiea Miller and sophomore guard/forward Dyree Wilson, both on the All-MAAC Third Team.

The top-seeded Saints advanced to Monday night's game after defeating #8 Canisius College in the quarterfinals (82-71) and #5 Niagara University in the semifinals (90-88). The second-seeded Gaels also ran through their first two contests in the tournament, topping #7 Rider University in the quarterfinals (64-59) and #3 Fairfield University in the semifinals (76-72). The scene was now set for the number one and two seeds to meet in the championship game for the first time since 1993, when number one Manhattan faced number two Niagara.  (The Jaspers claimed a 68-67 win over the Purple Eagles.)

The 2000 final game also marked a rematch of the 1998 championship final, in which Iona and Siena battled for the 1998 crown at the Pepsi Arena. The Gaels were victorious that night, winning 90-75.

With the title game in their backyard, Saints fans came out in droves on that March night to support the Green and Gold. Just a straight drive up the New York State Thruway, Iona fans gassed up their cars so they could cheer on the Gaels as they vied for their second title in three seasons. By the time the ball tipped that evening, 11,844 MAAC fans were in the arena to see the premier matchup, a single-session attendance record for the men's championship game.

As it turned out, it was a game worth watching.  Siena led, 39-37, at the half, but Iona came out on top once again and earned an 84-80 victory to capture the school's fifth MAAC Tournament crown and a spot in the NCAA Championship. Wilson was named Most Valuable Player after scoring a game-high 27 points in the finale. Miller recorded 15 points and nine rebounds for the Maroon and Gold, while senior center Ivo Kresta posted 14 points and seven boards.  Cantamessa paced the Saints with his 18 points and eight rebounds, and Faison finished with 17 points and eight boards.

Stags Stun the MAAC by Winning 1997 Men's Basketball Championship

After hosting seven consecutive MAAC Basketball Championships at Albany's then Knickerbocker Arena, the league had a change of venue for the 1997 tournament - the new Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo. Western New York fans were eager to see if Canisius, who finished second in the men's standings that season, would defend the Griffs' title crown in their own backyard.  But as any tried-and-true MAAC basketball fan can tell you, it is the unexpected that is always possible.

Fairfield, led by head coach Paul Cormier, was ready for the 1996-97 season.  A season earlier, the Stags enjoyed its best year in a decade after posting an overall record of 20-10 and tying for first with Iona in the league standings at 10-4. Fairfield was voted number one in the 1996-97 preseason coaches' poll, as preseason first-team picks Greg Francis and Shannon Bowman returned for their senior years as one of the most powerful guard/forward combo team the league had ever seen. The Stags would also be bolstered with the efforts of junior forward Shane Miller and sophomore guard Kyle Commodore.

But Fairfield experienced many obstacles in their run for the title that season. Miller sprained his back late December and Bowman severely sprained his ankle mid January, making their availability on the hardwood very limited. Freshman forward Darren Phillip did not play for Fairfield until late January after being declared eligible to play by a preliminary injunction by the U.S. District Court in an appeal to the NCAA Clearinghouse, which declared him ineligible earlier in the year. Francis, Commodore and freshman guard John Tice (who was later named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team) did their best to shoulder the effort, but the Stags finished last with a 2-12 mark in league play.

Fairfield was seeded eighth and would face top-seeded Iona in the quarterfinals. The Gaels were led by MAAC Player of the Year Mindaugas Timinskas, who was the MAAC's top scorer with 18.9 points per game and third in rebounding with 6.7 caroms per game. But Timinskas suffered a broken nose in the final week of regular season play, and coupled with a head cold, was not 100 percent for the opening round of the tournament. Bowman, now recovered from his sprained ankle, came off the bench for a team-high 22 points to lead Fairfield to an 80-71 victory over Iona. Francis added 20 points and Tice had 13 in the win. Timinskas finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. It marked the first time that the last seed had ever won a first-round game in the 16-year history of the league. 

In the semifinals, four players scored in double figures as Fairfield defeated fourth-seeded Saint Peter's, 73-61. Francis and Phillip scored 16 points apiece, while Bowman - back in the starting lineup - netted 15 points. Commodore posted 12 points as the Stags advanced to the championship final, the first time an eighth-seeded team would play in the MAAC title game.

Fairfield would face local favorite Canisius in the championship final, a rematch of last year's title contest that saw the Griffs earning a 52-46 win over the Stags to capture the 1996 MAAC crown. The Stags would be without Commodore, who was suffering a bout of the flu. But the senior duo of Francis and Bowman made the best of their final MAAC Championship game, netting 26 and 22 points, respectively, as Fairfield defeated Canisius, 78-72. Phillip recorded a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds in the finale. Francis was named Most Valuable Player, and Bowman and Phillip both earned spots on the All-Tournament Team.

Fairfield earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship, making them the 12th team in NCAA history to enter the Big Dance with a losing record (11-18). As the 16^th seed in the East Region, Fairfield would play top-seeded North Carolina at the Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Stags gave the Tar Heels a run, entering halftime with a 35-28 lead after shooting 56 percent from the field, including 6-for-11 from 3-point range. Fairfield led by as much as nine in the second half, but North Carolina scored 54 points in the second stanza to take an 82-74 victory. Francis scored a game-high 26 points, shooting 8-for-12 from behind the arc, while Bowman and Tice finished with 14 points apiece. 

Following the game, legendary North Carolina head coach Dean Smith said, "I had to find Francis after the game, but I couldn't shake his hand because it was so hot."

The seven-point loss still stands as the last single-digit loss by a #16 seed to a #1 seed in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship.

For a look back at Fairfield's roller coaster season, check out the USA Today Notebook from March 1997.

MAAC Begins Run of Hosting NCAA Championships

The last in our three day look at the 1995 postseason looks back at how the MAAC began its run of serving as co-host for various rounds of the NCAA Men's & Women's Basketball Championships.  The MAAC has co-hosted the men's tournament six times:

First & Second Rounds
Albany: 1995
Buffalo: 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010

East Regional (Sweet Sixteen/Elite Eight)
Albany: 2003

All six men's events enjoyed sell-out crowds welcoming more than 750,000 fans to experience March Madness.

In 1995 the then Knickerbocker Arena hosted the First & Second Rounds of the NCAA Tournament, which included MAAC Champion Saint Peter's against UMass. Also that year, Old Dominion beat Villanova in a classic triple overtime game 89-81. Ultimately Tulsa and UMass would advance out of Albany to the Sweet 16.  

Former MAAC Assistant Commissioner Jay Williams recalls hosting the 1995 First & Second Rounds.

HSBC Arena in Buffalo has hosted the First & Second Rounds on four occasions. Long time Buffalo News writer Mike Harrington recalled some of the memorable happenings in those games in this March 2010 article.

The MAAC has also hosted NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament action including the 2006 First & Second Rounds and the 2009 East Regional at the then Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, NJ.  In 2006 local favorite Rutgers thrilled fans advancing to the Sweet 16. In 2009 UConn, in the midst of its 91 game winning streak, advanced to the Final Four out of the Trenton Regional.

Manhattan Receives MAAC's First At-Large Bid, Shocks Oklahoma in NCAA Tournament

We continue our tour through the 1995 season with one of the MAAC's biggest postseason victories. Manhattan rolled through its league schedule with a 12-2 record (23-3 overall) en route to the regular season championship. At the MAAC Championship, the Jaspers took out Niagara and Fairfield by 23 and 13 points, respectively, to advance to the title game. Third-seeded Saint Peter's would be the opponent, a team Manhattan had beaten by over 20 points in each of the two regular season meetings. This time would not be as easy as the Peacocks hung with the Jaspers every step of the way, eventually winning the championship, 80-78, on a 12-foot jumper by Mike Frensley with 4.2 seconds remaining in overtime.

Manhattan's postseason fate would be decided by the NCAA selection committee. Although their record stood at 25-4, the Jaspers were criticized by some for playing a weak schedule. Apparently the committee did not agree as they awarded Manhattan the #13-seed in the Southeast Region where they would meet Oklahoma in Memphis, Tenn. It was the first time (and only time to date) the MAAC received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Many thought the committee got the selection wrong, but Manhattan made them look awfully smart. The little school from the big city outplayed the Sooners and ended up cruising to a ten point, 77-67, victory. Jaspers' Head Coach Fran Fraschilla may have summed it up best: "The tournament selection committee is not as dumb as people think."

And Saint Peter's reward for winning the league's automatic bid? A #15-seed and a match-up with powerhouse UMass and Marcus Camby. The Peacocks hung tough for almost 30 minutes, even taking a 49-48 lead on a Frensley three-pointer with 11:12 remaining, but UMass was too much and pulled away for a 68-51 win.

Canisius Becomes Second Straight MAAC Team to Advance to NIT Semifinals

1995 marked a banner year for MAAC Men's Basketball as three teams made headlines and the league began its tradition of hosting NCAA Championships. As a result, we will spend the next three days on March of 1995. Saint Peter's won its second ever MAAC championship upsetting a powerhouse Manhattan team in the MAAC Championship game, 80-78, which resulted in Manhattan earning the MAAC's first ever at-large bid to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.  However, today we will focus on Canisius, who finished second that year in the league with a mark of 10-4 and lost a hotly contested MAAC semifinal contest to Saint Peter's, 60-56.

From there the Golden Griffins, who had high hopes of winning a MAAC title in 1995, settled for the league's lone NIT bid.  Current Michigan Head Coach and then Canisius mentor John Beilein spent a few minutes reminiscing about the run Canisius had in 1995, including a memorable win over Washington State at the old Aud in downtown Buffalo in front of over 9,000 fans. We also touched base with him about the 1996 Men's Basketball Championship won by Canisius.

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Enjoy the following photos from the 1994-1995 Canisius team courtesy of Canisius College Sports Information. Also as Coach Beilein referenced, here is their game schedule from 1994-1995. By our count the Golden Griffins won 13 games away from home that year.