EDISON, NJ (Jan. 3, 2023) – Mount St. Mary’s University and Niagara University both pulled out close victories on Monday afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men’s basketball league play in Western New York. Mount St. Mary’s survived a Canisius comeback for a road win and Niagara held off Rider to remain unbeaten at home this season.
 
Mount St. Mary’s (6-9, 2-2 MAAC) – 64 | Canisius (2-11, 0-4 MAAC) – 60
Gallagher Center | NIAGARA UNIV., NY
Box Score (XML)
Box Score (PDF)
Mount St. Mary’s Recap
Canisius Recap
 
Mount St. Mary's held off a furious late game rally by Canisius to earn a 64-60 win at Niagara University's Gallagher Center on Monday afternoon. The Mount improves to an even 2-2 in their inaugural MAAC season, while the Golden Griffins fall to 0-4. Mount St. Mary’s used a 16-0 run that spanned the end of the first half and beginning of the second to fuel the victory. Despite the Mount holding a lead of 18 points (54-36) with just over 10 minutes to play in the game, Canisius stormed back, putting together a 22-5 run to cut the game to one-point with 49 seconds to play before eventually dropping the meeting. Jalen Benjamin led the Mount with 19 points while George Tinsley added a season-high 16 points and Dakota Leffew contributed 13 points in the victory. Canisius graduate student Jamir Moultrie led the Griffs with a team-high 11 points.
 
Niagara (8-5, 3-1 MAAC) – 61 | Rider (6-7, 3-1 MAAC) – 59
Gallagher Center | NIAGARA UNIV., NY
Box Score (XML)
Box Score (PDF)
Niagara Recap
Rider Recap
 
Niagara edged Rider, 61-59, on Monday afternoon in MAAC men's basketball action at the Gallagher Center. With 14.6 seconds left, Niagara missed on the front end of a 1-and-1, but Rider’s Dwight Murray Jr. was not able to connect on the game-winning three at the buzzer on the final possession of the game. The Purple Eagles hand the Broncs their first defeat of the MAAC season, as both teams sit tied for third-place with identical 3-1 league records. Niagara improves to 5-0 at home this season and have won nine straight at home dating back to last season. The Purple Eagles were led offensively by Noah Thomasson's game-high 20 points, while Aaron Gray contributed 14 points and Sam Iorio added 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds. The Broncs also had a trio in double-figures with Allen Betrand (16), Mervin James (15), and Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (13) scoring double digits.
 
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.
 
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