MAAC Honor Roll Inductees - Canisius
MAAC Sports
On March 2, the MAAC will recognize 20 significant men's and women's basketball players at the first annual Honor Roll Dinner at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Two former student-athletes from each institution will be enshrined in The MAAC Experience, the league's exhibit at the Hall of Fame. Bios for each honoree will be featured on MAACSports.com as we count down to the private event, as well as the start of the 2012 MAAC Basketball Championships.
Tony Masiello - Canisius College (1965-69)
Tony Masiello was a two-time captain for the Canisius College men's basketball team and closed out his career in Blue and Gold with 1,069 career points and 634 career rebounds. As a member of the Golden Griffins from 1966-69, the Buffalo, N.Y., native led the team in scoring and rebounding average in both his junior and senior campaigns. One of 20 players in school history to score more than 1,000 points while collecting more than 500 rebounds, he scored 35 points in his final college game to help lead Canisius to an 83-79 victory over Calvin Murphy and the rival Niagara Purple Eagles in The Aud on March 8, 1969. A member of the Canisius College Sports Hall of Fame and the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, he was drafted by Indiana of the ABA in 1969. After his basketball playing career was over, he served three terms as the Mayor of Buffalo and during that time, he helped resurrect and develop the Police Athletic League in the city while also playing a key role in the development of the annual Gus Macker 3-on-3 Tournament, held each summer in the streets of downtown Buffalo.
Karen Freeman - Canisius College (1979-83)
Karen Freeman finished her career third overall in assists (535) and 14th in scoring (874) for the Golden Griffins. Behind Freeman, the Griffs compiled an overall record of 80-28, finishing 26-5 in 1981-82 and winning 22 straight games that season. The stellar season was capped off with advancement into the National AIAW Regional Competition. She was one of 10 students nationally to receive a William F.X. Linskey Scholarship from the National Athletic Trainers Association and was a District II Academic All-American selection as a senior. Freeman also coached the Wake Forest University women's basketball team and was a court coach for the 1988 Women's Basketball Olympic Trials.