Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Notebook
by Matthew Moll
MAAC seeding fight
The conference tournament looms and the MAAC has its own share of drama the final week of the regular season before the MAAC tournament enters stage right. Two teams will tangle for the top seed and the middle conference contenders will cavort for tournament candidacy.
What will happen on selection Sunday will surprise no one. MAAC teams squandered too many non-conference opportunities and play each other too evenly to get more than one team into the field of 65. As for the NIT; Niagara has the only legitimate shot and only if they lose in the final game of the MAAC tourney.
The MAAC is a single bid conference which means the hottest team or the team that has the most favorable seeding will dance. Fairfield currently is not in position to have either after dropping five of their last seven and could fall to the ill-fated four seed.
Niagara has a one game lead after Rider broke the tie by falling to last place Siena. Rider has to win out, which includes a win over the fort holding Eagles. Marist, formerly known as the first place team and formerly known as the MAAC surprise, is in danger of the four-five seed. Then again this year in the MAAC no one is safe and no one team is particularly dominant. Which means a one-seed could be all but meaningless.
Mr. MAAC POY
This race is over. Juan Mendez is the Man of the MAAC. His team is in first. He leads the MAAC in rebounding, is second in scoring, and is third in blocks and first in Canada’s hearts.
Mendez is a double-double machine. It does not stop there for him either. He’s an accurate shooter (48 percent), he plays hard (over 30 minutes per contest), and simply he is just dominant. My regrets to all others that will apply, but there is only Juan.
Shaq of the MAAC
Deng Gai continues to pile on the blocks while his team is piling on the losses. Gai turned back 11 shots last week en route to passing Louisiana State’s best basketball player since Pistol Pete, Shaquille O’Neal’s for 14th on the all-time list. Shaq’s 412 was bested by Gai ending the week with 419 so far in his career.
This season the Stag’s paint controller is averaging 5.7 blocks per game.
Hoopville Rookie of the Week
C.J. Anderson, G/F, Manhattan, Fr. – 23.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.5 spg. while his Jaspers went 2-1 this past week.
Hoopville Player of the Week
Juan Mendez, F, Niagara, Sr. – 27.5 ppg, 9 rpg, 2.0 apg, 3.5 bpg to lead the first place Purple Eagles.
Niagara Purple Eagles (17-8 overall, 12-4)
Everyone still looking up: Niagara was good enough against their lone MAAC opponent while falling to a non-conference opponent to fill out the week.
The MAAC’s-Team-To-Beat gave the sold out Gallagher Center extra action for the price of regular admission in an overtime tilt with conference foe Canisius. The Eagles led by seven with less than two minutes in regulation, but Canisius managed to pull close and hit a desperation three with 1.8 seconds remaining to force further play. In the overtime session the league leaders proved proficient free throw shooters; making the line the difference in the game. Alvin Cruz hit four consecutive from the stripe to give the game its 113-101 score. Mr. Double-double Mendez went for his 16th double-double of the season pouring in 39 points and snagging 13 boards. Two other seniors, Cruz and David Brooks, on their Senior Night dropped 20.
Bracket Buster brought Brooks 27, but the Eagles could not hold off the Akron Zips as they fell 74-68. Niagara last led with 6:12 remaining, but could not take control of the game at any point during the 40 minutes. Mendez was held to 16 points 10 of which came from the free throw line, while Cruz added 13 points and four assists.
Hubie Brown would be proud: St. Peter’s then Rider then its March.
Rider Broncos (15-10, 11-5)
The three that cleared the gym: Rider started last week with a 74-66 road win over Fairfield. Jerry Johnson led the Broncos with 23 points including a three with 13:00 remaining that was immediately followed by a fire alarm. Despite the 20 minute evacuation the Broncos remained warm ripping a 24-5 run. Freshman Jason Thompson scored 12 points and grabbed 10 boards for his fifth double-double of the season.
Don Harnum and company traveled to Albany to end the week and suffered their fifth MAAC loss of the season to the less-than-sanctified Saints of Siena 78-69. Rider was beating themselves and were just plain getting beat shooting a meager 35 percent from the field and their rebounding proved deficient as they were out boarded by the Saints.
Two big ones: Marist then Niagara.
Fairfield Stags (12-12, 9-6)
Futility in Fairfield: Last seven games have equaled five losses including a current three game losing streak. The Stag’s recorded their first loss of the week falling 74-66 to Rider on their home court. Fairfield saw their first half lead evaporate after an unplanned intermission by way of a fire alarm which stalled the game and the Stag’s offensive productivity. Terrance Todd and DeWitt Maxwell each scored 18 points in the loss. Deng Gai swatted six shots to put him 14th on the all-time Division I list.
Cal-State Northridge defeated the Stags 68-65 to end their non-conference schedule for the season and extend Fairfield’s losing streak to three. The Stags could not find a rhythm on either side of the ball as they shot only 36 percent for the game and allowed five from Northridge to score double figures. Deng Gai continued his block fest for the season rejecting five shots.
Need to make a run: St. Peter’s and Iona this week.
St. Peter’s Peacocks (13-11, 8-7)
Making presence known: When the week ended the Peacocks were in the midst of a four game winning streak and are making a run at the third seed in the conference. Both wins last week required come from behind efforts and a lot of Keydren Clark.
The Peacocks were down by as many as 16 against Siena before Clark and Co., made a late game push. St. Peter’s rallied to pull within one with less than five remaining, but were unable to take control of the game until the 2:27 mark. It was then that Clark hit a three to put the Peacocks up by six, the Peacocks would not trail the rest of the game. Clark led the way with 26 points and seven assists.
Iona was the second team last week that could not hold a lead over St. Peter’s in the closing minutes of the second half. A 14-0 run over the last 4:30 propelled the Peacocks to an 81-76 win over the Gaels. Clark finished with 20 points, eight assists, and six steals. Ron Yates and Terrance Watkins added 23 and 19 respectively.
Continuing to gain respect: Fairfield and Niagara and Manhattan to end the regular season.
Manhattan Jaspers (13-12, 8-8)
Even in the MAAC and positioned to run: The Jaspers 2-1 week began with a trouncing of MAAC rival Marist. The Jaspers used a 24-0 run in the first half to blow the game open 40-16. The Jaspers continued to pour on the points recording 63.3 percent from the field on the way to an 86-54 win. Peter Mulligan led the way with 19.
The Jaspers rattled off their third straight win defeating Loyola 77-61 at Draddy Gymnasium. Manhattan broke away from the Greyhounds in the first half compliments of a 17-4 run. Freshman CJ Anderson impervious performance was highlighted by a game high points.
George Mason ended the Jasper’s run with a 78-66 defeat of the Jaspers. Mulligan and Anderson each had 25 in the loss.
Still the champs until someone beats them: Canisius and St. Peter’s
Marist Red Foxes (11-14, 8-8)
Surprise no more: The Red Foxes finished last week 1-1 extending their losing streak to six then ending it with a W over the last place Saints. The seventh consecutive loss was an 86-54 denunciation of the Foxes. Marist’s shot was off hitting on only a third of their attempts from the field while their opponents nearly doubled that percentage. Jared Jordan led the way for the Foxes with 15 points.
Coach Matt Brady was able to beat his alma mater and his team ended their losing streak with a 61-55 win over the Saints. Will McClurkin scored 21 points to lead his team.
Will they contend: Iona, Rider, Canisius.
Iona Gaels (11-14, 7-8)
What is a Gael: In the only game the Gaels had last week they allowed St. Peter’s to erase their lead and score the last 14 points of the contest. The 81-76 loss was dwarfed by the injury to Ricky Soliver who was taken away on a stretcher after injuring his back. The Gael nation continues to hold their collective breath as the MRI should be reported soon. Steve Burtt led the Gaels with 26 before fouling out.
A Scottish Highlander: Marist, Fairfield, Siena.
Canisius Golden Griffins (9-16, 7-9)
Losing streak snapped: The Golden Griffins began the week with two losses to extend their losing streak to three, but ended it with a win to stop the bleeding. The first loss of the week was a 81-74 overtime loss to Rider. The Griffs were in control with 3:40 to play in OT, but the Broncos responded with an 8-4 run to decide the game. Dewitt Doss led the way with 22 points.
Niagara’s 113-101 overtime win over Canisius tied a school record for the Griffs for overtime games in a season. Niagara’s 40-47 free throws including 9-10 from the line in overtime decided the contest. Kevin Downey and Doss each scored 30 in the loss.
Only four turnovers aided the suddenly efficient offense of the Griffs defeat Loyola 92-83 on Senior Night. Jon Popofski scored 23 points to lead the Griffs. Darnell Wilson contributed a double-double, 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Bling those Griffins: Marist and Manhattan
Loyola Greyhounds (6-19, 5-11)
A winning streak snapped: It could not last forever, and it didn’t. Loyola’s winning streak ended at three. The team that they started their streak against this time would end it. Manhattan forced 24 Greyhound turnovers in the 77-61 win over Loyola. Josko Alujevic scored 12 to lead the ‘Hounds.
Loyola started a new kid of streak losing their second straight falling to Canisius 92-83. Charlie Bell led his team with 17.
Two left: Siena and Fairfield.
Siena Saints (5-22, 3-13)
Stopped then stunned: The Saints’ had their losing streak extended by Marist in a 61-55 loss. The loss extended their losing streak to five and gave them the program its highest loss total for a season with 22. Freshman Jack McClinton led the way with 16.
McClinton scored a career high 30 to help the Saints upset Rider on Senior Night 78-69. Siena shot a season best 51 percent from the floor and forced Rider’s leading scorer Jerry Johnson in to taking 26 shots. Johnson ended the game with 21 points.
End of a bad run: Loyola and Iona.
