EDISON, NJ (Dec. 3, 2022) – The Iona University Gaels and Siena College Saints began their respective Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men’s basketball league slates with home wins on Friday night. The defending regular season champion and preseason favorite Gaels continued their home dominance with a near wire to wire victory over Niagara University. The Saints kept their momentum going following their third-place finish at the ESPN Events Invitational by topping Canisius College in Albany.
 
Iona (3-2, 1-0 MAAC) – 78 | Niagara (3-4, 0-1 MAAC) – 56
Hynes Center | NEW ROCHELLE, NY
Box Score (XML)
Box Score (PDF)
Iona Recap
Niagara Recap
 
Iona dominated Niagara, 78-56, in both team’s MAAC opener on Friday at the Hynes Center in New Rochelle, NY. The Gaels jumped out to an early lead and led for the final 35+ minutes of the contest, holding an advantage as high as 29 points late in the meeting. The win extended Iona’s home winning streak to 17 and was the program’s third straight MAAC win in the league opener. Iona junior Daniss Jenkins poured in a career-high 31 points to lead all scorers, becoming just the third MAAC player this season to surpass 30+ points and setting the league-high for individual points in a game for 2022-23 thus far. Nelly Junior Joseph posted his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Niagara was led by Aaron Gray's 14 and Noah Thomasson’s 12 points.  
 
Siena (5-3, 1-0 MAAC) – 74 | Canisius (2-5, 0-1 MAAC) – 70
MVP Arena | ALBANY, NY
Box Score (XML)
Box Score (PDF)
Siena Recap
Canisius Recap
 
Siena edged Canisius, 74-70, in the two team’s MAAC opener at MVP Arena in Albany, NY on Friday night. Siena scored 12 unanswered points, over a 1:56 span down the stretch, to help the Saints secure the conference win. With the win, Siena has recorded a league-most 51 MAAC regular season victories dating back to beginning of the 2018-19 campaign. Javian McCollum scored 21 of his career-high 27 points in the second half to lead the Saints, while Jackson Stormo added his fourth career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Henderson scored 18 points to lead the Golden Griffins on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor and Jamir Moultrie added 17 points.
 
The 2022-23 campaign culminates with the 2023 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships from March 7-11 at Atlantic City's Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall for the fourth consecutive year. For all information regarding the 2023 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, please visit MAACSports.com/basketball and by following @MAACHoops and #MAACHoops on Twitter. For tickets to the 2023 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, please visit ticketmaster.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) is in its 42nd year of competition during the 2022-23 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s 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.