EDISON, NJ (Mar. 5, 2022) – Following Saturday’s 2021-22 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men’s basketball regular season finales, the field is now set for the 2022 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s Basketball Championship. The annual conference tournament will take place from March 8-12 at Atlantic City's Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.
The top-five teams in the bracket all earn a bye in the first round. Earning an opening round bye are regular season champions, No. 1 Iona College (25-6, 17-3 MAAC), No. 2 Saint Peter’s University (16-11, 14-6 MAAC), No. 3 Siena College (15-13, 12-8 MAAC), No. 4 Monmouth University (19-12, 11-9 MAAC), and No. 5 Niagara University (14-15, 9-11 MAAC).
The first-round tips-off on Tuesday, March 8 with three games on the docket. No. 8 Manhattan College (15-14, 8-12 MAAC) and No. 9 Rider University (12-18, 8-12) kick things off at 5:00pm. The Jaspers and Broncs split in the regular season. Rider won the first meeting on Feb. 8 in Lawrenceville, claiming a 76-67 win. On Feb. 20, Manhattan knocked off Rider, 84-78 in overtime. The winner of this contest will meet No. 1 Iona in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 9 at 7:00pm.
In game two of the opening round, No. 7 Fairfield University (14-17, 8-12 MAAC) takes on No. 10 Canisius College (11-20, 7-13 MAAC) at 7:00pm. The Stags swept the regular season series, winning 74-68 on Dec. 3 in Buffalo, and 80-76 in overtime on Valentine’s Day in Bridgeport. No. 2 Saint Peter’s will await the winner of this game for a 9:30pm meeting on March 9 in the quarters.
The final game of the first-round will tip at 9:00pm on Tuesday night and it will feature No. 6 Marist College (14-15, 9-11 MAAC) vs. No. 11 Quinnipiac University (12-16, 7-13 MAAC). The home team was successful in both regular season contests. The Bobcats won the initial meeting on Jan. 28 by a score of 94-78, while the Red Foxes took game two 67-66 on Feb. 20. The victorious side will have a day off before clashing with No. 3 Siena in the first game of day two’s quarterfinals on Thursday, March 10 at 7:00pm.
Wrapping up the quarterfinal round will be No. 4 Monmouth against No. 5 Niagara on Thursday at 9:30pm. The Hawks and Purple Eagles split their regular season series, with the road team winning both games. On Dec. 3, in the MAAC league-opener, Monmouth defeated Niagara 57-49 in a defensive battle. Niagara would avenge the loss with a 70-69 overtime victory over Monmouth on Jan. 30.
All 2022 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s Basketball Championship games will be broadcasted on ESPN+. Friday’s two semifinal games will simulcast on ESPNews and Saturday’s championship title game will air on ESPNU.
| Round |
Game |
Matchup |
Date |
Times |
Network |
| First Round |
Game 1 |
No. 8 Manhattan vs. No. 9 Rider |
March 8 |
5:00 PM |
ESPN+ |
| First Round |
Game 2 |
No. 7 Fairfield vs. No. 10 Canisius |
March 8 |
7:00 PM |
ESPN+ |
| First Round |
Game 3 |
No. 6 Marist vs. No. 11 Quinnipiac |
March 8 |
9:00 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinal |
Game 4 |
No. 1 Iona vs. Winner Game 1 |
March 9 |
7:00 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinal |
Game 5 |
No. 2 Saint Peter’s vs. Winner Game 2 |
March 9 |
9:30 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinal |
Game 6 |
No. 3 Siena vs. Winner Game 3 |
March 10 |
7:00 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinal |
Game 7 |
No. 4 Monmouth vs. No. 5 Niagara |
March 10 |
9:30 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Semifinal |
Game 8 |
Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 7 |
March 11 |
6:00 PM |
ESPNews & ESPN+ |
| Semifinal |
Game 9 |
Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 |
March 11 |
8:30 PM |
ESPNews & ESPN+ |
| Championship |
Game 10 |
Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9 |
March 12 |
4:00 PM |
ESPNU |
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.