Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Notebook
by Matthew Moll
Milestone weeks
The landscape of college basketball has changed in recent years for many reasons. Preps going straight to the pros, coaches’ revolving doors, recruiting violations, transfers, and the emergence of JuCo players have all become storylines that have changed the dynamic of college sports. Because of such occurrences, rarely are career milestones highlighted. Whether it is because professional careers or how many ankles you break are viewed as fulcrums of success or because coaches are perpetually on the hot seat, rare are numbers highlighted. Several players and a coach reached career milestones in the past few weeks, here are some of their numbers.
There is only Juan
Juan Mendez is beginning to run away with Player of the Year honors as he carries his team and saturates stat sheets with gaudy numbers. So far this season we have seen five 30-point games, four double-doubles, and nine 20-plus point games. In MAAC play he is averaging 28 points and 12.6 rebounds per contest. Mendez has also been named the conference’s player of the week three times already this season.
On a national level Mendez is being noticed as well. He was named to the CollegeInsider.com Midseason Mid-Major All-American Team for his consistent play all season.
The Purple Eagles’ big man has also reached career milestones in his senior season collecting his 30th double-double. Mendez is also second among Canadian-born NCAA DI players in points, and can take lead in next few games trailing Michael Meeks (Canisius) by 37.
Keydren atop St. Peter’s scoring list
He leads the nation in scoring and now every player that scores a basket in a Peacocks uniform will be looking up at Keydren Clark, even though he stands at five feet nine inches.
Clark entered the December 30 game against the College of Charleston third all-time on the list, but was resplendent wracking up 43 points in the loss and propelling himself up two slots on the list. All of this in his 10th game into his junior season, those he chased played a need four seasons for their numbers.
Mr.-Reigning-2004-DI-Scoring-Leader currently leads the nation with 27.1 points per game.
1000 reasons why Gai can score
Mr.-Human-Block-Party has proven throughout his career at Fairfield that the lane is his and attempting to breech those lines with a shot will result in returning such indulgences. This is known, as his 4.4 blocks per game (best in the MAAC by 2.0 blocks per game) will attest. But Deng Gai is normally (see below) a dependable scorer averaging 13.7 (a career high) per game so far this season and 12.7 per contest over his career.
Gai reached his 1,000th the game after point after blowing up for a career high of 28 against Niagara. So far this season, Gai had two 20-point games, but was also held to single digits on three occasions.
100 reasons why Bobby Gonzalez can coach
Manhattan coach Bobby Gonzalez earned his 100th win at Manhattan with the Jaspers’ 89-47 win over North Dakota State. Gonzalez is 100-56 over six seasons, making him the second-quickest Manhattan coach to achieve such a feat.
The previous two seasons have resulted in two 20-win seasons, two MAAC championships, two NCAA appearances and a win last year in the NCAA tournament.
Bobby G is the second MAAC coach this season (Jeff Ruland of Iona) to have reached this career win milestone.
MAAC departures
Red-shirt freshman Marshall Taylor of Siena and sophomore Christiano Johnson of Manhattan will not return to their respective teams. Taylor stated a desire to be closer to home while Johnson wanted to focus more on his track and field career at Manhattan. Last spring Johnson qualified for the NCAA Regional in high jump he also won the MAAC high jump aiding the Jaspers to the MAAC title.
Player of the week
Juan Mendez, Niagara
We can’t say more about him than we’ve already said.
Rider Broncos 6-5 overall, 3-0 MAAC
Come along and Ride(r) on a fantastic: First place belongs only to Rider after the Broncos ended their four game losing streak and reeled off two straight wins. The first of these two wins came in the Oneida Bingo and Casino Classic, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Rider defeated North Dakota State in the consolation game of the tournament 93-72. Sparked by nine straight points by senior Robert Taylor, Rider went up 50-31 at the half. At the start of the second half the Broncos went on a 10-2 run to put them up 60-33, they would later lead by as many as 28 points before time expired. Jerry Johnson scored 29 points and dished seven assists and was also named to the All-Tournament team.
Rider kept their MAAC record unblemished with a 95-86 win over St. Peter’s. A 12-2 run for the Broncos with 5:42 remaining appeared to break the game open, but St. Peter’s was able to respond with a 9-0 run late to pull within eight, but the effort was tardy as the Broncos prevailed.
Mr. The-Nation’s-Leading-Scorer Keydren Clark finished with a pedestrian 14. Edwin Muniz scored a season-high 20 points in the win.
Possibly four: January 8 Rider will visit Loyola.
Fairfield Stags 6-6, 3-1
Stags staggered, 1-2 in last three: Fairfield has lost three of their last five games en route to a .500 record. One of those losses came at the hands of a formidable MAAC opponent, Niagara, in a game that was billed to be a postseason preview. But the Stags could not match the intensity of the Juan Mendez and the Purple Eagles as they fell 86-74. Fairfield had only one lead and it was just one point (29-28), and even after a 15-4 run in the first half, they quickly surrendered an identical run. Six points would be the closest the Stags would cut into the lead for the duration. In the head to head battle for POY Juan Mendez bested Deng Gai’s career high 28 points with 34. Gai ended the game with 11 boards and 5 swats to pace the Stags.
Terrance Todd and DeWitt Maxwell chipped in 27 and 26 respectively as the Stags handled Iona 80-63. The Stags spurting offense doubled up on Iona by the half 36-18. Runs of 7-0 and 10-0 characterized the half and put the Stags ahead for good when they took a 7-4 lead early. Gai was two points away from his 1,000th point for his career and that is all he managed in the win, but had yet another multi-block game with four.
Gai’s numbers improved but the teams result was less than before in a 60-57 loss to Yale. The Stags led by as many as 12 before they allowed Yale to make their comeback. Yale capped a 9-0 run with 22 seconds remaining to go up by four and force Fairfield to a 6-6 overall record. Gai and Todd each had 16 points, but only combined for seven in the second half. Gai’s block party remains hot as he finished the game with eight.
Niagara Purple Eagles 7-4, 2-1
Juan more time: Mendez outmanned Gai and the Fairfield Stags with a win 86-74 in their only game in a 16-day period. Mendez had a day of career bests including cleaning the glass 16 times and hitting on four three-point field goals on the way to his 30th career double-double and his 34 point night. David Brooks became the 35th Purple Eagle to eclipse the 1,000-point milestone adding 15 in the win.
High scoring Mid-Major All-Americans: Keydren Clark and Mendez pit point totals on Jan. 6.
Manhattan Jaspers 6-4, 1-1
Rejoining the land of the living: After suffering a 30-point loss to the Top 15 ranked Arizona Wildcats just nine days before, the Jaspers looked to rebound at home against a formidable mid-major opponent in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Draddy Gym. But the Jaspers could not match the Panthers intensity in the overtime session falling 88-78. Manhattan appeared poised to bounce back from the ‘Zona loss leading by as many as 12 in the first half and lead at halftime 29-21. UWM tied the game compliments of a 15-5 run at 36 with 12:47 remaining. The Panthers would later take the lead, but the Jaspers responded to force the extra session. Milwaukee’s 13-0 run to start the OT proved to be the difference, as the Jaspers could not equal the output. CJ Anderson led the way with 21 points.
Manhattan ended the two-game slide by welcoming Witchita State back to earth and ending their unbeaten season 64-59. The teams exchanged blows and runs, but the game was decided by the Jaspers final gush of gall hitting for the 12 of the games final 14 points. Peter Mulligan went for 27 in the win.
A new streak began for the Jaspers with a thrashing of North Dakota State 89-47. Coach Bobby G coached his 100th win in the rout. Mulligan had 15 while Anderson scored 14 in the win.
101 Jaspers: Sixteen straight games against the MAAC starting with Marist.
Marist 4-7, 1-1
Give me Liberty: The Liberty Flames suppressed the chance of any sanguine feelings Red Foxes in a 69-67 home court loss for Marist. Marist led for much of the game, but their hold on the game proved vulnerable as they let the lead slip finishing with a three-point play by the flames with 22 seconds remaining. Will Whittington lead the team with 15 points.
Coming out of the den: MAAC showdown with Siena is next.
Siena Saints 3-9, 1-1
Jack the game winner: Three of Jack McClinton’s most important of his team leading 15 points came with 37 seconds remaining as the Saints were able to get past Monmouth 60-59. Neither team played well on offense combining for 36 percent from the field. Tommy Mitchell and Mike Beers each added 11 points in the victory.
Which school is more Catholic: Siena versus Marist Jan. 8.
St. Peter’s Peacocks 5-6, 1-2
St. Peter don’t you call me: Holiday tournament action gave the Peacocks two tightly contested games one ending in a win and one ending in a loss. The Saturn Shootout bracketed Tennessee Tech against the Peacocks. St. Peter’s edged out Tech 65-62 to earn the right to play in the finals against College of Charleston. Charleston put their 6-3 record on the line against Clark’s 27.1 ppg. Clark dropped in 43, but it was not enough to counter the balanced attack of Charleston falling 85-80.
Clark and Company could not bounce back and pull their record to .500 in the conference after suffering a 95-86 loss to MAAC leading Rider. Clark scored only 14 points.
Taking feathers on the road: First of five road games is at Niagara, Jan. 6.
Loyola MD Greyhounds 1-9, 1-1
No champagne for the New Year: New year old results as the Greyhounds drop their last game of 2004 and their first of 2005 to extend their new losing streak to five. The New Year’s Eve afternoon tilt matched Loyola with Princeton of the Ivy League. Princeton was able to defend their home court with a 75-62 shut down of Loyola. Charlie Bell played only 24 minutes but managed 22 in the loss.
Loyola’s first game of 2005 ended with a sting largely because a questionable no call that could have sent the game into overtime. Down 68-65 to Central Connecticut State Bell took brought the ball to the three-point line and his shot caromed harmless off the rim, but not until after an apparent stifled whistle. Linton Hinds lead the Dogs that Chase Electrical Rabbits with 18 in the loss.
Take the Greyhound to win station: VMI at home.
Canisius Golden Griffins 1-9, 1-2
Blue and gold turns to black and blue: Mike MacDonald’s team continues to slide after two more losses. The consolation game of the Dreyfus Holiday Festival became the battle of the C’s as Columbia contended with Canisius. Columbia improved to 7-3 after handing a 64-58 loss to the Griffs. The Lions polished off a 15-0 run with under five minutes left on the clock to seal the game and send Canisius home from Madison Square Garden winless.
College of Charleston drummed the Griffs 93-72, their eighth straight loss of the season. Dewitt Doss led the Golden Griffins with 18 points in the loss.
More Ivy and some MAAC on the way: Brown then St. Pete’s and Iona.
Iona Gaels 4-8, 0-3
Streak of two: Poor first half shooting hampered the efforts of the Gaels as Northeastern began Iona’s losing streak 76-61. The Gaels shot under 25 percent in the first stanza and were unable to overcome the deficit. Steve Burtt lead the Gaels with 19.
Iona’s second loss of the streak came courtesy of MAAC foe Fairfield 80-63. More poor first half shooting (7-29) for the Gaels lead to an 18 point margin that later proved insurmountable in the loss to the Stags. Although the shooting improved to over 50 percent in the second half Fairfield could prevail. Burtt went for 18 in the loss.
Gael’s lugubrious feelings to persist?: Niagara and Canisius up next.
