MAAC Earns Five Wins in 2012 Sears BracketBusters
MAAC Sports
Edison, N.J. - The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference earned five victories during the 2012 Sears BracketBusters series.
Canisius 73, UMBC 66
Alshwan Hymes scored 23 points and Canisius led by as many as 21 points in a 73-66 win Saturday over UMBC. The Golden Griffins built their 21-point lead in the first half, leading 43-28 at intermission. Hymes, who hit five 3-pointers, got help from Harold Washington, who scored 16 points, and forward Chris Manhertz, who posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Chase Plummer, who led UMBC with a 24-point, 14-point double-double, hit two free throws with 2:16 remaining to cut the deficit to 64-61. But Washington scored on a layup and Reggie Groves stuck a jumper to give the Golden Griffins breathing room. Canisius shot 50 percent (27-for-54) from the field, while the Retrievers shot 37.5 percent (21-of-56).
Iona 90, Nevada 84
Lamont Jones scored 18 points as Iona outlasted Nevada Saturday, 90-84. In the Bracket Busters shootout, Iona won its fourth straight. The Gaels got balanced scoring from Jones, Michael Glover (15 points), Scott Machado and Sean Armand (13 apiece) and a boost from Randy Dezouvre, who came off the bench to score 17 points. Machado hit all 8 of his free throw attempts and had 15 of Iona's 23 assists. Trailing 71-58 midway through the second half, Nevada whittled it to 82-77 with 4:04 left. But Dezouvre stuck a jumper, and Machado made layup and two free throws. Jones' two foul shots with 28 seconds left sealed the victory. Olek Czyz scored 28 points and Deonte Burton 21 for Nevada.
With Saturday's win, Iona's strength of schedule improved to 47, and the Gaels are now 6-3 against top 100 teams this season. Iona leads all the MAAC schools in the RPI ratings, now standing at 44.
Loyola 69, Boston University 56
Robert Olson scored 17 points, including five 3-pointers in six attempts, to lead Loyola to a 69-56 victory over Boston University on Sunday. The victory gave Loyola (20-7) its highest victory total in 31 seasons in Division I and ended a two-game losing streak. A 3-pointer by Olson broke a 34-34 tie with 16:05 remaining and started the Greyhounds on a 16-3 run for a 50-37 lead. After the Terriers got back within 54-50, two 3-pointers by Olson, sandwiched around an Erik Etherly dunk, stretched the lead to 62-50 with 4:32 left. Loyola, which led 29-28 at halftime, shot 71.4 percent (15-of-21) in the second half to 40.6 (13-of-32) for the Terriers. Dylon Cormier had 14 points for Loyola, Justin Drummond added 12 and Etherly scored 11. Darryl Partin scored 17 points and D.J. Irving 16 for Boston University.
Manhattan 79, UNC Wilmington 64
George Beamon scored 22 points and Emmy Andujar had 19 to lead Manhattan over UNC Wilmington, 79-64, on Saturday. The Jaspers forced 23 turnovers, leading to 22 points in the Bracket Busters contest. Mohamed Koita added 11 points for the Jaspers, who led 34-28 at halftime and by as any as 19 with 13:20 to go. Andujar and Beamon had three steals each, pacing Manhattan to 13. The Jaspers shot 80 percent from the free-throw line (24-of-30). Keith Rendleman led the Seahawks with 21 points and Adam Smith added 10.
Marist 77, Maine 71
Chavaughn Lewis led four players in double figures with 24 points for Marist in a 77-71 win over Maine on Saturday. Lewis was 10-of-16, grabbed nine rebounds and dished five assists, as the Red Foxes shot 51.8 percent from the field (29-of-56). Marist also shot 53.3 percent from 3-point range (8-of-15) in the Bracket Busters contest. Devin Price added 16 points and Manny Thomas and Isaiah Morton had 10 each in the Red Foxes' fourth win in their last five. Gerald McLemore scored 20 points and Mike Allison had 12 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Black Bears.