EDISON, NJ (Jan. 2, 2023) – The 2023 portion of the season began on Sunday afternoon with three Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men’s basketball league contests on the docket. Both Iona University and Siena College improved to a perfect 3-0 in league play, keeping pace with Rider for a three-way first-place tie at the top of the standings, while Quinnipiac University earned its first MAAC win of the season in impressive fashion.
 
Iona (10-4, 3-0 MAAC) – 73 | Saint Peter’s (7-7, 2-3 MAAC) – 55
Hynes Center | NEW ROCHELLE, NY
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Iona Recap
Saint Peter’s Recap
 
Iona earned a wire-to-wire, 73-55 win over Saint Peter's at the Hynes Center on Sunday in MAAC action. In addition to the 3-0 MAAC mark, the Gaels are 5-0 at home this season and have won 20 consecutive games at home. Iona scored 11 of the game’s first 13 points and led by as many as 21 in the one-sided meeting. Walter Clayton Jr. led the Gaels with 18 points, Nelly Junior Joseph recorded a 16-point, 14-rebound double-double, and Osborn Shema had a career-high 14 point effort in the win. Saint Peter’s, which dropped to 2-3 on the MAAC season, was led by its top scorer on the year, Isiah Dasher, who scored a game-high 19 points.
 
Quinnipiac (10-5, 1-3 MAAC) – 84 | Manhattan (4-9, 2-2 MAAC) – 65
Draddy Gymnasium | RIVERDALE, NY
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Quinnipiac Recap
Manhattan Recap
 
Quinnipiac earned its first MAAC win on Sunday afternoon, beating Manhattan 84-65 at Draddy Gym in Riverdale, NY. The Bobcats shot 51.7 percent from the floor which included knocking down 13 triples, improving to 1-3 in the MAAC. Despite the defeat and falling to 2-2 in league play, the Jaspers were also efficient, shooting over 42 percent from both the field and three-point range. Five Bobcats recorded double-digit point totals. Matt Balanc led the way with 20 points, Paul Otieno and Dezi Jones each chipped in with 17 points, and Savion Lewis and Tyrese Williams each recorded 10 points. Ant Nelson matched Balanc with 20 points to lead the Jaspers while Nick Brennen added 18 points.
 
Siena (9-5, 3-0 MAAC) – 70 | Fairfield (6-8, 2-2 MAAC) – 61
Leo D. Mahoney Arena | FAIRFIELD, CT
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Siena Recap
Fairfield Recap
 
Siena earned its fourth straight overall win with a 70-61 victory over Fairfield at Leo D. Mahoney Arena on Sunday. The Saints improve to 3-0 in the MAAC and the Stags drop to 2-2 in league play. Siena shot 54 percent from the field and held leads as large as 18 points (in the first half) and 16 points (in the second half) before Fairfield used an 18-8 run to cut the deficit to two-points with just over two minutes to play. Freshman reserve Michael Eley tied his season-high for a third time with 16 points and added a career-best seven rebounds, Jackson Stormo contributed 15 points, and Jared Billups, scored 10 points and added nine rebounds in the win for Siena. For Fairfield, TJ Long led all scorers with 19 points, while Allan Jeanne-Rose had 15 points and Supreme Cook was the third Stags in double figures with 10 points along with five rebounds.
 
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.