EDISON, NJ (Jan. 28, 2023) – In a nationally televised battle for first place, Siena College used a second half offensive explosion to rout Iona University, headlining Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men’s basketball league action on Friday night. Niagara University and Rider University also earned wins on the night, with the Broncs’ win propelling the team into second-place.
 
Niagara (11-9, 6-5 MAAC) – 68 | Manhattan (6-13, 4-6 MAAC) – 62
Gallagher Center | NIAGARA UNIV., NY
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Manhattan Recap
 
Niagara held off Manhattan, 68-62, on Friday night at home in the Gallagher Center. The outcome gave the team’s a regular season series split, with the Purple Eagles improving to 6-5 in conference play while the Jaspers fall to 4-6 in the MAAC. Niagara led by as many as 14 points in the first half, before Manhattan was able to pull within four points late in the half. Midway through the second half, the Jaspers managed to knot the contest at 45-45, but the Purple Eagles responded with an 11-3 run to regain the lead and hold off a late push by Manhattan in the final seconds. Noah Thomasson finished with a game-high 19 points, six rebounds, and four assists, followed by Joe Kasperzyk who tallied 10 points, to lead Niagara. Ant Nelson led Manhattan with 16 points and seven assists, while Josh Roberts, the MAAC leader in field goal percentage, scored 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field.
 
Rider (10-9, 7-3 MAAC) – 68 | Marist (7-12, 3-7 MAAC) – 52
McCann Arena | POUGHKEEPSIE NY
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Rider Recap
Marist Recap
 
Rider knocked off Marist, 68-52, on the road Friday night at McCann Arena in MAAC men’s basketball action. After Marist dominated the early portion of the first half, creating a lead of 14 points, Rider pulled within one point by the break. To begin the second half, the Broncs outscored the Red Foxes, 26-5, which included a 15-0 stretch, to build a comfortable 22-point lead, which the team never surrendered from that point on. A trio of Broncs scored in double figures with Dwight Murray, Jr. leading the way with 14 points. Mervin James followed with 13 points and Allen Powell added 11 points in Rider’s fourth consecutive win, which put the team at 7-3 in the MAAC and in sole possession of second-place on the MAAC standings following the night’s outcomes around the league. Marist, which fell to 3-7 in conference play, also had three players reach double digit scoring with MAAC leading scorer Patrick Gardner leading the way with 15 points, Trace Salton contributing 13 points, and Isaiah Brickner accounting for 11 points.
 
Siena (14-7, 8-2 MAAC) – 70 | Iona (13-7, 6-3 MAAC) – 53
MVP Arena | ALBANY, NY
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Siena Recap
Iona Recap
 
In the MAAC ESPNU game of the night, first-place Siena toppled second-place Iona, 70-53 in front of a crowd of 7,801 at MVP Arena in Albany, NY. The Saints sit alone at the top of the MAAC standings with an 8-2 mark following the win, while the Gaels fall into a two-way tie for third-place at 6-3 following the defeat. Siena has never held no worse than a share of first-place on the MAAC standings the entire season. The first half lived up to the billing with seven lead changes and four ties, while Siena led for 10:29 and Iona led for 7:34. The Gaels would hold a three-point edge at halftime, leading the home side 36-33. The second half was all Siena as the Saints came out of the locker room on a 20-2 run, which also included a run of 17 straight points, that spanned 6:22. The Saints would eventually grow a lead by as much as 20 points and would ultimately post a 37-17 second half advantage to secure the home win. Michael Baer, who lost his father to bladder cancer just five days ago, recorded his first collegiate double-double with a career-high 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 12 rebounds to lead Siena. Andrew Platek matched Baer in scoring with 18 points of his own and Jackson Stormo added 17 points and four blocks for the Saints. Nelly Junior Joseph led Iona with 15 points and 10 rebounds, collecting his eighth straight double-double and MAAC-leading 11th of the season, while Berrick JeanLouis (13) and Walter Clayton Jr. (10) also scored in double figures for the Gaels.
 
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.