EDISON, NJ (Jan. 31, 2022) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) today announced, the February 11 men’s basketball matchup between Siena College and Iona College will be flexed to ESPNU as part of the MAAC Wildcard Game package. The game will now tip at 9 p.m. inside of MVP Arena in Albany, New York.
 
A contest that features the defending MAAC tournament champions against the defending MAAC regular season champions, top ranked Iona will travel to third-ranked Siena for this game. This will be the second meeting of the season between the two, having met last Tuesday, Jan. 25 in New Rochelle, NY with Iona coming out on top, 74-57.
 
Two-time defending MAAC regular season champions, the Siena Saints (8-8, 5-3 MAAC) currently hold down third-place on the MAAC standings with the month of January concluding, despite being picked eighth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Siena has won six out of its last eight, including a pair of wins last weekend over Niagara (Jan. 28) and Quinnipiac (Jan. 30). Colby Rogers is the top scoring option for the Saints and 10^th best scorer in the league, averaging 14.5 points. He has successfully connected on 45.7 percent of his triples, the 11^th best three-point percentage in the nation. Along with Rogers, Jackson Stormo and Aidan Carpenter also average in double figures this year, logging 10.9 and 10.0 points, respectively. The unit have two top-10 rebounders in Anthony Gaines (7^th) and Stormo (8^th), and the league-leader in steals with Nick Hopkins accounting for 1.88 thefts per outing. Siena is the most disciplined team in the MAAC, committing the fewest fouls and fewest turnovers among all 11 teams.
 
The defending MAAC champions and unanimous preseason favorite, Iona Gaels (18-3, 10-0 MAAC) is off to its best MAAC start in program history with its perfect 10-0 mark. The Gaels, which have not relinquished its top spot on the MAAC standings this season, have won seven straight overall contests and is a perfect 9-0 at home. Iona is the sixth team in the MAAC’s 41 years to start a league season with 10 wins and the first in over a decade – last done by Siena in 2009-10. A trio of Gaels rank top-20 on the MAAC scoring charts, which include Tyson Jolly, Nelly Junior Joseph, and Elijah Joiner. Jolly ranks fifth, averaging 14.7 points, Junior Joseph ranks 11^th, averaging 13.7 points, and Joiner ranks 17^th, averaging 11.3 points. Junior Joseph is the conference leader in offensive rebounding and ranks second in total rebounds, double-doubles, and blocked shots, while Jolly has rejected the eighth most shots in the conference and Joiner has dished out the ninth most assists. As a squad, Iona has the highest scoring offense in the MAAC, putting up 77.5 points each game. The team is also the league leader in total rebounds, offensive rebounds, scoring margin, assists to turnover ratio, and blocked shots. The Gaels entered the week as the No. 3 ranked team in the Mid Major Top-25 and the team also received a vote in the Associated Press Top-25 twice this season as of Jan. 24.
 
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.