Saint Peter’s vs. Siena Men’s Basketball Set to air on ESPNU

1/12/2021 3:30:00 PM

LOUDONVILLE, NY (Jan. 12, 2021) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced today that the men’s basketball matchup between Saint Peter’s University (6-5, 3-3 MAAC) and Siena College (4-0, 4-0) on Jan. 22 will be flexed to ESPNU as part of the MAAC Wildcard Game package. The game is set to tip at 7:00 p.m. at Siena’s Alumni Recreation Center (ARC) in Loudonville.

The matchup features two MAAC heavyweights, with Siena being selected as the unanimous favorite and Saint Peter’s being selected No. 3 in the MAAC’s Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Last season, Siena and Saint Peter’s finished first and second in the MAAC standings, respectively.

Siena is led by the 2019-20 MAAC Player of the Year, and 2020-21 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, Jalen Pickett. Pickett is averaging 17.7 points per contest though three games, having not participated in Siena’s last game on Sunday against Fairfield. The Saints’ lineup also features unanimous Preseason All-MAAC First Team selection Manny Camper, who along with teammate Aiden Carpenter (Rookie), was named MAAC Player of the Week yesterday. The Saints were the last MAAC team to begin their season, waiting until Jan. 3 due to COVID-19 pauses, but have yet to lose a game after playing Monmouth and Fairfield. Siena travels to face Rider in Lawrenceville this weekend.

Saint Peter’s has played more games than any other MAAC team this season at 11, playing five non-conference opponents as well as two-game series against Niagara, Monmouth and Canisius. Head Coach Shaheen Holloway is in his third year with the program, collecting MAAC “The Rock” Coach of the Year honors a season ago. Leading the Peacocks is junior forward KC Ndefo, the MAAC’s defending Defensive and Sixth Player of the Year. Ndefo leads the entire NCAA at 3.64 blocks per game and leads Saint Peter’s with 12.8 points per contest. The Peacocks’ roster also features Preseason All-MAAC Third Team selections Daryl Banks III and Doug Edert. Saint Peter’s will travel to face Iona in New Rochelle this weekend.

The MAAC Wildcard Game format allows ESPN to pick any game scheduled for that specific date to air on ESPNU and allows the MAAC and ESPN the flexibility to showcase the best matchups as the season progresses. Future MAAC wildcard matchups will be announced at later dates.

The 2020-21 campaign concludes with the 2021 Hercules Tires MAAC Basketball Championships from Mar. 9-13 at Atlantic City's Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. Stay up to date with all MAAC basketball by visiting MAACSports.com/basketball and by following @MAACHoops and #MAACHoops on Twitter.

About the 2021 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships:
The MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships return to New Jersey on March 9-13, 2021 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. To stay up to date on MAAC basketball, visit http://maacsports.com/basketball and follow @MAACHoops on Twitter.

About Time Out for Black Lives:
Time Out for Black Lives aims to inspire and educate youth, athletes, families and fans. The initiative has an interactive website where coaches and student-athletes from MAAC basketball programs contribute their time and resources to read children’s books in entertaining videos, all focusing on Black culture, history, music and myths. The program comes as part of the MAAC’s United for Justice campaign that was announced over the summer. For more information, visit timeoutforblacklives.com.

About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) celebrates its 40th year of competition during the 2020-21 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.