Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Notebook
by Matthew Moll
Here is a look at the MAAC conference so far this season.
Rider Broncos (14-6 Overall, 7-2 MAAC)
Tied for first: Six straight W’s propelled the Broncos into first place with Marist. Rider, who began the MAAC schedule with at 1-2 record, is now at the top of the standings as the MAAC world eyes an all-out slugfest showdown with Marist on Jan. 30. The Broncos are lead by all-everything forward Jason Thomspon, who is averaging 20.4 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. His brother Ryan is the team’s leading assist man dishing over four assists per game. Rider’s margin of victory is the best in the MAAC, outscoring their adversaries by just over eight points per contest.
Battle for the top: at Saint Peter’s Jan. 27, at Marist Jan. 30, at Siena Feb. 2.
Marist Red Foxes (13-7, 7-2)
Wouldn’t call it a roll, but it’s a roll: Marist enters the weekend winning seven of their last eight games and recently rolled past two MAAC opponents. Matt Brady’s Red Foxes have not missed a beat since losing the nation’s assist leader and the team’s three highest scorers. Jay Gavin and Louie McCroskey have paced the offense at 13.4 and 12.4 ppg. respectively while David Devezin engineers it, leading the team in assists. Marist’s defense might be what pushes them into the field of 65 this season as they are able to hold their opponents to 68.7 ppg., second in the MAAC.
A challenge will be ahead as McCroskey will miss the rest of the season after fracturing his foot.
Protecting the regular season crown: Canisius on Jan. 27 and Rider on Jan. 20 in Poughkeepsie, at Siena on Feb. 2.
Siena Saints (12-7, 7-2)
Getting their wins in chunks: The Saints saw a winning streak halted at four by Loyola on Jan. 24, experiencing their largest conference loss of the season 85-56. The non-conference part of this season was highlighted by the Saints’ Nov. 17 win over then 20th-ranked Stanford, the first win over a ranked opponent under coach Fran McCaffery. Before the Loyola loss the Saints previous loss came in the closing seconds to Fairfield 53-52.
Siena leads the MAAC in scoring at 77.4 ppg. Edwin Ubiles leads the Saints, going for 16.6 ppg followed by Kenny Hasbrouck at 15.1 ppg. Siena labors on the glass and is currently the worst offensive and defensive rebounding team in the MAAC. Opponents out-rebound the Saints by about four rebounds per game.
Battle with the upper third: at Iona on Jan. 27, Rider on Feb. 2 and Marist on Feb. 4 in Albany.
Niagara Purple Eagles (12-6, 6-3)
Dance dance? The Purple Eagles are a blowout road loss out of first place in the MAAC and are in position to make a second consecutive tournament run. Niagara is led by the nation’s leading scorer in Charron Fisher, who averages 27.5 ppg and is also third in the MAAC in rebounds at 9.1 per. The Purple Eagles so far this season are the most prolific outside shooters in the MAAC in averaging just over eight makes per game.
The black and purple: at Fairfield Jan. 27, hosting Loyola on Feb. 1 and Loyola on Feb. 10.
Loyola Greyhounds (10-10, 6-3)
On pace for best under Pastos: Loyola is in the middle of a three-game winning streak, with two of those wins coming over teams in the fight for MAAC supremacy. Senior Gerald Brown leads the Greyhounds with 18.4 ppg, which is good for third in the conference. The Greyhounds’ most recent win was a 32-point basting of Siena. The Hounds can be turnover-prone, as their Jan. 13 loss to Fairfield proved where they booted 20 to the Stags. Overall Loyola has the third-worst turnover margin in the MAAC.
Others seeing Grey? at Manhattan Jan. 26, at New Jersey Institute Jan. 29, at Niagara Feb. 1.
Fairfield Stags (7-12, 5-4)
Keeping it close: The Stags may be two down in the win/loss columns, but they have kept each conference loss respectable. Fairfield’s MAAC losses are on average by less than six points, with only one loss being by double-digits (to Siena) and one they would later avenge. Fairfield’s defense, despite being the best scoring defense in the MAAC, still allows more (68.5) than the offense scores (62.6). The offense is led by its lone double-digit scorer Jonathan Han, who averages about 11 points per game.
Can close the gap on the road: Hosting Niagara on Jan. 27, at Canisius on Feb. 1, and at Niagara Feb 3.
Iona Gaels (7-14, 3-6)
Already more than last season: A year ago the Gaels were the last Division I team to win a basketball game. This season Iona has managed a winning streak that equaled one more than last season’s total victory output (three). First-year head coach Kevin Willard has rapidly turned around a team that endured the worst season in school history. Also a first: senior Dexter Gray has paced the Jaspers with 11.6 ppg in his first season as a full-time starter. Although the Gaels are out of the dregs of the MAAC, they have dropped their last two and suffered a mid-season five-game losing streak.
Seeking double digits: Hosting Siena on Jan. 27, at Manhattan on Jan. 30, at St. Peter’s Feb. 1.
Manhattan Jaspers (8-11, 2-7)
If they shot from the Chrysler Building they wouldn’t hit concrete: The Jaspers are currently in the midst of a four-game losing streak, the team’s longest of the season. Manhattan’s struggles are on both sides of the ball, playing up or down to the competition. In two games against MAAC leader Rider, the Jaspers scored at least 80 points in the two losses, but for the season the Jaspers are seventh in the league in scoring, the worst three-point shooting team in the conference and do not have a single player who averages double-digits. On the defensive side the Jaspers give up 76.2 points per game, the highest output by opponents in the MAAC.
Rookie Rashad Green has shown signs of good things to come while also keeping the Jaspers out of MAAC cellar.
Next games: hosting Loyola Jan. 26, hosting Iona at Madison Square Garden, at St. Peter’s on Super Sunday.
St. Peter’s Peacocks (4-15, 1-8)
Near bottom: The Peacocks have lost six consecutive games dating back to January 6th. St. Peter’s lone league win came in a battle to avoid the bottom with the team who currently occupies the last spot in the MAAC standings. Despite having one of the top scorers and the second-best rebounder in the conference in Todd Sowell, the Peacocks are the third-worst scoring team in the conference and are consistently out-rebounded. The Peacocks have a string of three MAAC home games where they will attempt to clot the current bleeding.
Game time: hosting Rider on Jan. 27, then Iona (ESPNU) on Feb. 1, and Manhattan on Feb. 3.
Canisius Golden Griffins (3-16, 1-8)
Finally beat Niagara: The Golden Griffins have toiled in the bottom half of the MAAC since the 2001-02 season finishing no better than fifth each of those seasons. But despite the less than favorable finishes Canisius managed to avoid the cellar each of those seasons. Last year the Golden Griffins tallied more wins than the prior, but the upward trend seems to have stopped. The Griffs are the worst team in the league in scoring – the only team in the league with under 60 points per game at 56.4 – and are at the bottom of the MAAC in field goal percentage.
It could get worse: at Marist Jan. 27, at home against Fairfield on Feb. 2 and Loyola on Feb. 3.
