EDISON, NJ (Jan. 21, 2022) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) today announced, the February 4 men’s basketball contest between Saint Peter’s University and Quinnipiac University will be flexed to ESPNU as part of the MAAC Wildcard Game package. The game is set for a 7 p.m. tip at Run Baby Run Arena in Jersey City, New Jersey.
 
A matchup that features a pair of top-four teams in the MAAC, this game will put one of the leagues tops scoring teams in Quinnipiac up against one of the top defensive units in Saint Peter’s. Having already met back on Dec. 3, during the conference December slate of games, the Peacocks took round one, earning a 69-59 road win over the Bobcats.
 
Picked second in the MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the Saint Peter’s Peacocks (6-6, 4-1 MAAC) currently sit in second-place in the MAAC standings and are riding a three-game winning streak. Saint Peter’s, which is unbeaten during 2022 thus far, has MAAC victories over Monmouth (Jan. 14), Rider (Jan. 16), and Canisius (Jan. 18), along with the aforementioned win over Quinnipiac. Leading the Peacocks offensively is the junior combination of all-conference guard Daryl Banks III and Doug Edert. Banks ranks top-25 in the MAAC with his 10.7 points per game average and is the conference leader in free-throw percentage, while Edert is averaging 9.7 points per outing and sits in 10^th place on the conference three-point field goal shooting percentage leaderboard. Defensively, MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, KC Ndefo, is the conference leader in blocked shots while ranking 31^st nationally, and the trio of Ndefo, Banks, and Hassan Drame all rate top-10 in steals, ranking sixth, 13^th, and 14^th, respectively. As a unit, the Peacocks lead the conference in scoring defense and steals, holding opponents to 63.9 points and recording 8.5 thefts per game. Additionally, Saint Peter’s is second in blocks and forced turnovers.
 
The Quinnipiac Bobcats’ (10-6, 5-3 MAAC) five league wins are the second-most wins in the MAAC and the team’s 10 overall wins are third-best. Quinnipiac holds the fourth-place slot on the current MAAC standings and the team is also in the midst of a three-game winning streak. In league play, the Bobcats have knocked-off Manhattan (Dec. 5), Niagara (Dec. 31), Fairfield (Jan. 16) and own a season sweep over Rider (Jan. 2 and 14). Matt Balanc is the top scorer for the Bobcats, averaging the fourth-highest scoring mark with 15.1 points per game. While Balanc is the only player averaging in double figures, four other members of the Quinnipiac lineup averages nine points or better which include; Kevin Marfo (9.9 ppg), Jacob Rigoni (9.5 ppg), Dezi Jones (9.5 ppg), and Savion Lewis (9.4 ppg).  Marfo, one of the top rebounders in the country, leads the MAAC in total rebounds, defensive rebounds, double-doubles, and is second in offensive rebounds. Nationally, Marfo ranks seventh in rebounding average, ninth in defensive rebounds, 17^th in total rebounds, 22^nd in double-doubles and 26^th in offensive rebounds. As a squad, Quinnipiac is the top three-point threat in the conference, connecting on 8.9 triples per game, a mark that is one full three-pointer more than the next closest league member. The Bobcats also rank second in assists and scoring margin, and third in scoring offense.
 
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 2021-22 campaign culminates with the 2022 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships from March 8-12 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. The road to AC!
 
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) is in its 41st year of competition during the 2021-22 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.
 
Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or visit MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.