Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Notebook
by Matthew Moll
Crowded at the top, but not for long
Rider, Marist, and Fairfield look different than this writer’s Fairfield, Niagara, Manhattan prediction, but nevertheless there is plenty of drama. This next week will break up the trio when Marist and Fairfield battle for supremacy.
Niagara and Manhattan may slip further out with tilts against the current conference controllers.
I’m still I’m still Deng Gai from the block
Gai entered last week the nation’s leading shot blocker with 4.8 per contest. This past week he bested those numbers with colossal defensive efforts upping the average to 5.2 blocks per game; a full 2.0 blocks per game over his next competitor.
His unflagging defensive efforts placed him in the Division I Top 25 blocks leaders list moving him past Georgetown’s finger waving Dikembe Mutombo.
More Mendez and Eagle milestones
Juan Mendez’s 20 points against Manhattan elevated his career scoring mark to 1,843 to make him the highest scoring Canadian in NCAA Division I history passing Michael Meeks of Canisius who played from 1993 to 1996. Joining him in the 1,000-point club that same night was Alvin Cruz. Teammate David Brooks also joined the ten-cubed club this season.
Hoopville Performer of the Week
Deng Gai, Sr., Fairfield (19.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 8 bpg last week)
Hoopville New Guy
CJ Anderson, Fr., Manhattan (14.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 2.5 bpg last week)
Rider Broncos (9-6 overall, 5-1 MAAC)
Unbeaten no more: Rider’s perfect MAAC record and four game winning streak simultaneously ended after a visit from Fairfield. The Stags prevailed on Rider’s home court 72-69. Rider last led 69-62 with 2:12 remaining, but a 10-1 run by the Stags to end the game proved to be the difference. Deng Gai, who leads the nation in block shots per game, had 10 swats. Jerry Johnson scored 19 to pace the Broncos.
The Broncos were able to rebound from the short departure from winning with an 89-69 win over Loyola. Rider relied on a 13-0 run to go up 64-49 with nine minutes remaining before extending the lead to 20. The win marks the sixth straight over Loyola. Johnson went for 19 while Jason Thompson hit for a career high 17 and added eight boards in the win.
Still atop the MAAC: Jan. 20 Niagara; Jan. 22 Canisius
Marist Red Foxes (8-7, 5-1)
Fair and balanced: Marist is in the midst of a four game win streak. Compliments of this run the Foxes now have a portion of the conference lead. Marist defeated Loyola 63-49 to give the Foxes the third win in their current string of wins. The Hounds were held to under 30 percent shooting by the stingy defense of Marist. Four Red Foxes put up double figures to counter the Greyhounds poor shooting night. Will McClurkin led the victors with 13 points while Ryan Stilphen pulled down a career high 14 rebounds.
The Wills were able to outplay MAAC Player of the Year frontrunner Juan Mendez and defeat Niagara 88-87 to extend to their current streak. McClurkin splashed in a career high 24 while Will Whittington netted 20 to prove more effective than the duo of Mendez and Brooks. Marist’s come from behind effort culminated at the 4:13 mark when they took the lead 77-76. Whittington’s free throws with 21 seconds left sealed the win. As a team the Red Foxes torched the Eagles with 53.6 percent from the field.
Tangle with the top: Fairfield and the rising Hounds are next.
Fairfield Stags (8-7, 5-1)
Offensive surge by defensive sage: Three consecutive conference wins means that the Stags are now jostling two teams for first place. En route to the first place slot Fairfield bounced Siena 77-66. Fairfield permitted the Saints to cut into the early second half lead with a 12-1 run to pull within 4; but Fairfield responded to push the lead back to 10. DeWitt Maxwell’s 18 led the Stags. Mr.-The-Nation’s-Leading-Blocker Deng Gai tallied 14 points and redirected 6 attempts.
Rider’s place at the top became thrice as crowded with a 72-69 loss to the Stags. Gai registered 25 points, nine rebounds, and 10 blocks dismantle the once unbeatens. Fairfield held the Broncos to one point in the final 3:20 to seal the win and earn a piece of the MAAC lead. Tyquawn Goode dropped 13 dimes for his career best.
The tie will be less: Marist then rendezvous redo with Saints
Niagara Purple Eagles (9-6, 4-3)
Needing some wind beneath: Two MAAC loses in a row has put a previously dominating team two games out of first. Last season’s MAAC tournament representative bested the Purple Eagles 78-72. Despite Juan Mendez’s continued double-double success and becoming the highest scoring Canadian in NCAA Division I history. The Purple Eagles pulled within three at 66-63 with less than three minutes to play, but Manhattan’s efficacy from the free throw line clinched the victory.
Another double-double for Juan, but another loss for the Eagles as Mendez’s 34th career two digits in two statistical categories night and David Brook’s 23 points was not enough to stave off the surging Marist Red Foxes as the Eagles fell 88-87. Niagara’s 12-point halftime lead vanished when Marist opened the second half with a 12-0 run. The teams exchanged blows until Marist ensured a win going up four with 21 ticks left. Alvin Cruz hit a three as time expired to give the game its final score.
Huge if they win it: Rider and redemption on the minds against Manhattan.
Manhattan Jaspers (8-6, 3-3)
Undecided: After upsetting Niagara the Jaspers were cooled with great alacrity by the Iona Gaels 69-67. The Jaspers squandered a 13-point lead and a CJ Anderson double-double en route to being the Gaels’ first MAAC victim of the season. Manhattan was in position to take a go ahead shot, but called a time-out they did not own and thus were assessed a technical foul. The two free throws made by the Gaels would be the final points posted for the game.
The Jaspers used a 14-5 run to go up for good by double digits in a 92-82 win over St. Peter’s. All five Manhattan starters scored double-figures lead by Mr.-MAAC-Newcomer-of-the-Year CJ Anderson with 21.
Will the champs show: Canisius and Niagara to follow.
Canisius Golden Griffins (5-10, 3-3)
Suddenly competitive: Canisius surrendered a chance to be in a two-way tie for second in the MAAC when they fell 70-68 to Loyola. A three-point basket by Loyola with 13 seconds left was the difference for the Greyhounds. Five Golden Griffins scored in eclipsed the 10-point mark; but the team effort went unrewarded in the loss.
A tie for third and the first road win of the season were the spoils of a 80-84 overtime victory over Siena. Dewitt Doss scored a career-high 27 points including eight in the extra stanza to lead the Griffs. Doss’ three with the game knotted at 74 in OT gave the Griffs a three-point lead that would be threatened, but not relinquished before the final buzzer sounded. Kevin Downey chipped in 19 to help the Griffin’s cause.
You’ve got the Griffin touch: Manhattan and Rider.
Loyola Greyhounds (3-12, 2-4)
Double the conference wins, hold the streak talk: Sean Corrigan’s fifth three-point make of the season pushed the Greyhounds past the Golden Griffins and in turn doubling the conference win total of last season. Linton Hinds paced the ‘Hounds with 15 points.
The good fortune did not persist for Loyola as current MAAC leader Rider routed the Greyhounds 89-69. Brad Farrell scored 18 points in the loss. Loyola’s defense was answerless and could not stop the Broncos who lit up the Pepsi Arena with a 59 percent shooting performance.
Woof: Marist and Iona
Siena Saints (3-13, 1-4)
We’re halfway there… ooohh oohhh: The Saints are down to only having prayers and hoping for a miracle to turnaround their quickly depreciating season after losing four straight and six of their last seven. Penn welcomed themselves into Albany by giving the Saints their worse home loss since 1997 89-62. Penn began the game on a 26-6 run and did not look back. Tay Fisher led the Saints with 13 points.
Fisher’s career high 16 points was not enough as the Saints lost 84-80 in overtime to Canisius. The Saints were able to make up a 12-point disadvantage to force overtime, but could not stop Dewitt Doss and the Griffins in the extra session.
Will the bleeding stop: Fairfield and St. Peter’s will decide.
St. Peter’s Peacocks (6-9, 1-5)
Just struggling in the MAAC: St. Peter’s dealt Yale a home loss in 79-68 win for the Peacocks. Keydren Clark’s 28 led the way and helped snap a four game losing streak. But the Peacocks MAAC misfortunes remained. Clark scored 32 in the 92-82 loss to Manhattan. The Peacocks could not hold onto the ball turning the ball over 17 times to the Jaspers 8.
There is more to life than scoring: Iona and Siena are good chances for St. Peter’s to get back to MAAC winning.
Iona Gaels (5-11, 1-5)
It starts with one: What better way to end a conference losing streak than beating the best team the previous two season? For now the Gaels will take it and try to build from there. Greg Jenkins’ 30 points was instrumental in the 69-67 win on Manhattan’s home floor.
The winning ways did not continue as Holy Cross sent Iona packing on the last game of their six-game road stretch. The Crusaders 12-19 from beyond the arc broke the game open.
Shall we try for two: St. Peter’s and Loyola.
