EDISON, NJ (Feb. 11, 2023) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men’s basketball ESPNU Game of the Week did not disappoint, as a late game, go-ahead jumper with under 10 seconds to play, lifted first-place Rider University over Fairfield University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Also, around the league, second-place Iona University, third-place Siena College, and fourth-place Niagara University, each earned key wins to keep pace with the Broncs on the top of the conference standings.
 
Iona (17-7, 10-3 MAAC) – 80 | Canisius (5-18, 3-11 MAAC) – 59
Koessler Athletic Center | BUFFALO, NY
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Iona Recap
Canisius Recap
 
Iona used efficient offensive shooting to lead to an 80-59 road victory over Canisius in MAAC men’s basketball action at the Koessler Center on Friday night. The Gaels won their fourth in a row, improve to 10-3 in the league, and remain a half game behind first-place Rider on the MAAC leaderboard. The Golden Griffins fall to 3-11 in the MAAC following the setback, their sixth consecutive loss. Iona shot a season-best and second highest program percentage this century, 64.7 percent from the field, while also shooting over 46 percent from beyond the arc in the dominating win. The Gaels created double-figure advantages at 10-0 and 24-15 in the opening half to lead at the break and after Canisius got to within five in the second half, Iona ripped off 11 point rallies at two separate points to go ahead by 20 and put the game away. Walter Clayton Jr. had a team-high 19 points and Osborn Shema had a career-high 16 points to lead the Gaels, while Nelly Junior Joseph added 15 points and became the 42nd player in Iona history to record 1,000 career points. For Canisius, Tahj Staveskie stuffed the stat sheet, scoring a career-high 26 points, and also recording four rebounds, three assists, three steals and a blocked shot. Jamir Moultrie added 11 points off the bench for the Griffs as well.
 
Niagara (14-9, 9-5 MAAC) – 79 | Quinnipiac (17-8, 8-6 MAAC) – 73 OT
Gallagher Center | NIAGARA UNIV., NY
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Quinnipiac Recap
 
Niagara erased a 17-point deficit to earn a 79-73 overtime win over visiting Quinnipiac in MAAC men's basketball action from the Gallagher Center Friday night. With the win, the Purple Eagles broke their fourth-place tie with the Bobcats, taking a full game lead over Quinnipiac with a 9-5 MAAC record, while the Bobcats slip to fifth-place at 8-6. Quinnipiac jumped all over Niagara in the first half, taking a lead of 33-19 with just over a minute to play in the half. Niagara would cut the deficit to 10 at the break but Quinnipiac pushed its lead to 45-28 five minutes into the second half. Over the next 12:55 of the half, the Purple Eagles would outscore the Bobcats 29-12 to knot the game at 57-57 and eventually take a three-point lead before the Bobcats had to score late and force overtime. Overtime was all Niagara, going up by seven and then closing the door with an 18-12 edge in the extra period. Noah Thomasson posted a near triple-double with 21 points, nine rebounds and eight assists to lead Niagara. Braxton Bayless scored a career-high 18 points and Harlan Obioha recoded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Joe Kasperzyk contributed 11 points additionally. Luis Kortright led Quinnipiac with a season-high 25 points, matching his career-best, Ike Nweke posted 13 points and Tyrese Williams chipped in with 10 points off the bench. Niagara has now won five straight games, while Quinnipiac has dropped its last two contests.
 
Rider (14-9, 11-3 MAAC) – 58 | Fairfield (10-14, 6-8 MAAC) – 57
Alumni Gymnasium | LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ
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Rider Recap
Fairfield Recap
 
On an ESPNU national broadcast, Rider snuck past Fairfield, 58-57, at home in Alumni Gym, in front of a sold out crowd. Following a missed game-tying free throw with 21 seconds to play, the Broncs collected the offensive rebound and Allen Powell drained a game-winning baseline jumper with 7.3 seconds left to secure Rider’s eighth-straight win. This was also the second time this season Powell broke the hearts of Fairfield supporters, having hit a buzzer beater to send the two teams into overtime less than two weeks ago on Jan. 29, ultimately leading to a Rider comeback win. The eight-game winning streak for Rider is the longest active streak in the league and the Broncs remain in sole possession and a half game ahead of second-place Iona with their 11-3 MAAC mark. The Stags, which previously owned a four-game winning streak when this game was selected as the MAAC Wildcard game and flexed to ESPNU, has since dropped four in a row and fall to 6-8 in the conference. The seesaw game produced six ties and 15 total lead changes, with the largest leads being six by Fairfield and five by Rider. Additionally, the Stags led for 19:20 and the Broncs led for 16:55 with no real separation coming from either side in the contest. Powell scored a game-high 18 points, while Dwight Murray Jr. added 11 points and Mervin James posted his second straight double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Fairfield was led by Supreme Cook’s 16 points and Allan Jeanne-Rose’s 12 points on the night.
 
Saint Peter’s (10-13, 5-9 MAAC) – 67 | Marist (8-15, 4-10 MAAC) – 56
Yanitelli Center | JERSEY CITY, NJ
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Saint Peter’s Recap
Marist Recap
 
Saint Peter’s defeated Marist, 67-56 in men’s hoops action inside of Run Baby Run Arena on Friday night in Jersey City, NJ. The win gave the Peacocks a season series sweep over the Red Foxes and improved the team’s MAAC record to 5-9, while Marist dropped to 4-10 on the season. Saint Peter’s never trailed in the wire-to-wire victory over Marist, holding leads as high as 13 points in the opening frame and 16 points in the second half of the win. Four players for Saint Peter’s scored in double figures, with Kyle Cardiac leading the way with a team-high 16 points. Jaylen Murray followed with 14 points, and the duo of Latrell Reid and Isiah Dasher each scored 10 points. Marist was led by a game-high 17 points from Patrick Gardner and Sam Farris chipped in with 14 points.
 
Siena (16-9, 10-4 MAAC) – 72 | Mount St. Mary’s (8-17, 4-10 MAAC) – 65
Knott Arena | EMMITSBURG, MD
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Siena Recap
Mount St. Mary’s Recap
 
Siena outlasted Mount St. Mary’s, 72-65, on Friday night at Knott Arena in men’s MAAC play. Siena moves to 10-4 in conference action, snapping a two-game skid, while the Mountaineers fall to 4-10. The win for the Saints also clinched the season series sweep over the Mount. The Mount opened the game outscoring Siena 13-4, before a 22-5 Saints response, put Siena ahead by eight. The remainder of the half went back and forth leading to a 33-33 tie. Siena never trailed in the second half, going ahead by nine points and never allowing Mount St. Mary’s to get within three. Siena was led by the guard duo of Michael Eley and Javian McCollum who combined to score 45 points after both missed the previous game. Eley scored a career-high 23 points, while McCollum poured in 22 points.  Dakota Leffew led the Mountaineers with a team-high 20 points while Jalen Benjamin added 16 points and seven 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.