MAAC Doubleheader on ESPN Networks Tonight
MAAC Sports
EDISON, N.J. – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s television broadcast schedule continues on Thursday and Friday, with two games on ESPN3 and one on ESPNU.
On Thursday, Jan. 23, Monmouth will play host to Fairfield in an ESPN3 broadcast at 7 p.m. On Friday, Jan. 24, Quinnipiac will visit Iona in an ESPN3 contest at 7 p.m., while Rider will be at Manhattan in a game to broadcast on ESPNU, also at 7 p.m.
Monmouth was picked to finish last in the preseason coaches poll, but is currently in seventh-place in the 11-team MAAC, with a 3-5 league record, and 9-10 overall. The Hawks have been led by their junior duo of Deon Jones (15.6 ppg) and Drew Nicholas (14.2 ppg). One of the youngest teams in the MAAC, Fairfield upset Manhattan last Saturday 71-67. At the time the Jaspers were in sole possession of first place. Sophomore Marcus Gilbert (13.4) and senior Maurice Barrow 12.4 pace the Stags.
Friday’s doubleheader features three of the four teams who enter this week in a four-way tie for first place in the MAAC standings. Quinnipiac and Iona, both 6-2 in league play, will square off at the Hynes Center in New Rochelle, N.Y., and a ESPN3 broadcast at 7 p.m. Quinnpiac (11-6 overall) is led by the MAAC’s top rebounder, Ike Azotam who is averaging a “double-double” with 16.4 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. His frontcourt mate Ousmane Drame is just off the “double-double” pace averaging 12.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per contest. Iona (9-8 overall) features three-point sharpshooters Sean Armand (18.6 ppg) and A.J. English (17.6 ppg). English is No. 2 in the MAAC with 3.0 three-point FGs made per game, while Armand is right behind him with 2.9 threes made per contest.
Manhattan (13-4, 6-2) will host Rider (9-8, 5-3) on ESPNU on Friday, also at 7 p.m. Manhattan has been led recently by Michael Alvarado, who is averaging 14.2 points per game. Rider is paced by senior guard Anthony Myles, averaging 18.8 points per game, and senior forward Daniel Stewart, who contributes 15.4 ppg.