All that is good with Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball.
Glover and Sanders share honors
Sanders finished the week by averaging a double-double with 17.5 points and 11 rebounds in two road league wins over the weekend. He posted a double-double in the win against Niagara with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Sanders followed up with another double-double by registering 19 points and 10 rebounds against Canisius. He shot 54 percent for the week and dished off eight assists, including five in the Canisius game.
Glover averaged 20.3 points and 7.7 rebounds in Iona’s 3-0 week. Glover shot 22-for-37 from the field (64.9%) and 13-of-16 from the free throw line (81.3%) against Long Island, Canisius and Niagara. He posted a 28-point, 14-rebound double-double to open the week in a win over Long Island and ended the week with a 27-point, six rebound effort vs. Niagara. Glover’s 11 offensive rebounds and 12 defensive rebounds led the Gaels in both categories. Entering Sunday’s play, he was one of six Division I players to average more than 19 points and nine rebounds per game.
Washington earns Jesuit basketball honors
Canisius College junior Harold Washington has been named to the Jesuit Basketball Weekly Honor Roll for the week of Nov. 28-Dec. 4, the Jesuit Basketball Spotlight announced today. This is the second time this season Washington has been honored for his play by the Jesuit Basketball Spotlight, which is a project developed by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.
Washington led the Golden Griffins last week by averaging 23 points per game while shooting 59.3 percent from the field, 80 percent from 3-point land and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line in the team’s first two conference games of the season. In the Griffs’ loss to Iona Dec. 2, the junior guard posted a game-high 22 points to go with a career-high seven rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Green tabbed MAAC Rookie of the Week
EDISON, N.J. – Niagara men’s basketball guard Juan’ya Green was named MAAC Rookie of the Week on Monday.
Green averaged 30 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 4.0 assists per game and 1.0 steals per game this past weekend against Iona and Fairfield, who were picked one and two, respectively, in the MAAC Preseason Poll. Green broke a 33-year old school record in his first conference game on Friday against Fairfield.
Green scored 35 points on 12-for-22 shooting from the field and was 6-for-6 at the free-throw line to set a Niagara freshman scoring record. Green’s 35 points surpassed Garry Jordan’s 30 points versus Saint Peter’s on Jan. 4, 1978. Green also set a career-best in rebounds (six) and in 3-pointers (five). His five 3-pointers were one shy of tying the NU freshman record set by Tyrone Lewis on Dec. 6, 2006. Green’s 35 points are tied for fifth most in MAAC history amongst freshmen.
Iona spoils Canisius opener
Momo Jones keyed a late run as the Iona Gaels defeated Canisius 69-57 in MAAC action at the Koessler Athletic Center.
After scoring just four points in the game’s first 30 minutes, Jones accounted for eight with two assists in the final 10 as the Gaels blew open a one-possession game.
“Coach screamed at me,” Jones said laughing when asked about his late surge. “I’ve been settling a lot over the last couple of games, and I think coach saw it. He did a great job of telling me to go to my strength which is penetrating and getting people the ball.”
Loyola’s Etherly ECAC POTW Nominee
Second half run pushes Loyola to MAAC opening win
BALTIMORE – Robert Olson scored five points during a 9-0 Loyola University Maryland run midway through the second half, changing a 48-47 Marist College lead to a 56-48 Greyhounds advantage, and Loyola defeated the Red Foxes, 76-63, in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener for both teams Thursday night in Reitz Arena.
The Greyhounds (5-1 overall, 1-0 MAAC) snapped a five-game losing streak in MAAC openers and improved to 5-1 for the first time since the 2005-2006 season, also the last time they won their first conference game of the year.
Iona cruises at Niagara
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Senior Mike Glover posted 27 points and junior Lamont Jones added 20 as the Iona College men’s basketball team handled Niagara 98-62 at the Gallagher Center. The 36-point win was the sixth-largest for the Gaels in their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference history.
Iona (6-1, 2-0 MAAC) earned its sixth straight win, scoring 90 points for the fifth time in seven games. The Gaels shot 63.3% for the game including a remarkable 72.0% from the field in the second half. Iona’s all-around effort translated to the defensive end as well limiting Niagara to just 34.9% from the field. The Gaels out rebounded the Purple Eagles 39-25 and had 25 assists in the win.
Manhattan defense shuts down St. Peter’s in 68-42 win
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – For the Manhattan College men’s basketball team, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) season couldn’t have started any better. After winning at Rider for the first time in nine years on Friday night, the Jaspers were just as impressive in their first home conference game. Manhattan (5-4, 2-0 MAAC) used a dominating defensive performance to notch a 68-42 victory over defending MAAC champion Saint Peter’s (2-5, 1-1 MAAC) at Draddy Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.
Saints earn bragging rights, claim cup with comeback win
Contrary to printed reports, the Capital Region basketball landscape has not been turned upside down. Siena restored order to the rivalry it has owned Monday night at Times Union Center, ripping the Albany Cup from its crosstown neighbor with a thrilling 19-point comeback, and bludgeoning them with it throughout a dominant second half. When the dust settled, Siena earned a 64-60 win, its ninth in 11 Division I meeting between the schools.
“We needed this pretty badly,” head coach Mitch Buonaguro conceded. “The kids had fought back in every game without a lot of success. This should put us over the edge. I’ve said it all year, I love coaching this team.”
Machado has entered elite point guard territory
Looking for the best point guard in college basketball right now? Start in New York City, where Iona senior Scott Machado is churning out monster numbers for the nation’s highest-scoring offense.
Now before you throw things at me, it’s important to keep in mind that the role of a point guard is so diverse, and so utterly dependent on a team’s game plan, that it’s often hard to find the one guy who plays the position best among his peers. For a player like North Carolina’s Kendall Marshall, the main objectives each night are to rack up assists, keep things moving and initiate the offense. In a word, he’s a “passer,” and that’s basically all Roy Williams wants/needs him to be. Scoring, rebounding and swiping opposing passes are all optional. So while Marshall clearly does an exceptional job in this role, it’s not surprising that he is second in the country in assists (10.8 apg). This is not exceedingly difficult to do when you’re almost always making the “last” pass of each possession.
Iona and mid-majors not named Gonzaga that could be this year’s VCU
When MoMo Jones joined the top four scorers from Iona’s 25-win team of a season ago, the Gaels instantly became the talk of mid-major basketball.
And why not?
Jones contributes scoring and defense, but he’s also the only player on this team with NCAA tournament experience. We all remember his 16-point performance against Duke in the Sweet 16.
More ATM, News & Notes from the MAAC
YOUR HOOPSCRIBE GOT A FIRST-HAND look at the Loyola men in their 66-59 victory over Siena at Albany, N.Y.’s Times Union Center, and was very impressed.
For much of the early season, almost all speculation about this year’s regular-season title contenders have centered on Iona or Fairfield. But, what about Loyola? The Greyhounds are now 6-1 overall this season, their only loss coming against Wake Forest. And, they’re off to their first 2-0 beginning in MAAC competition in 23 years.
Loyola coach Jimmy Patsos was asked about the focus on Iona and Fairfield, so far, and whether his team is being overlooked …
Scanning the Game Notes
Youth Production
Niagara, which is one of the youngest teams in the nation, is heavily influenced by its freshman and sophomore class.
Niagara’s top two scorers are freshmen (Mason and Green) and its third leading scoring is sophomore Marvin Jordan.
The two classes account for 81 percent of the minutes played and 87 percent of the scoring.
20 Something
The Stags forced a team into more than 20 turnovers for the second time this season. Arizona State tallied 22 miscues while Minnesota registered 23 turnovers on November 17. In both games, Fairfield has double-digit steal amounts with 13 against Arizona State and 10 versus Minnesota. The Stags have had less turnovers than the opponent in three games this year – 15-16 edge against Quinnipiac and 20-23 edge against Minnesota.
Rebounding Advantage
It’s only been six games, but Loyola is +54 in the rebounding column this year, averaging 9.5 more than its opponents per game. The Greyhounds have outrebounded three teams by 13 or more, pulling down 22 more than Coppin State, 13 more than New Hampshire and 25 more than Marist.
BIG MAN MANHERTZ
Canisius sophomore forward Chris Manhertz made the most of his second career start on Nov. 13 at James Madison, as he posted a career-high 16 points to go with a career-high nine rebounds. Manhertz, who missed seven games last year with an ankle injury and was never really 100 percent throughout the whole year, and averaged 1.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in 21 games. He was good for 12 points and nine rebounds at Longwood Nov. 15, and after he pulled down six rebounds at Buffalo Nov. 22, he has been the team’s top rebounder in all four games this year. Manhertz currently ranks fourth in the MAAC in rebounding average at 8.0 boards per outing this season after he had a career-high 10 boards in the team’s game against Iona Friday night. Listed at 6-foot-6, he is the shortest player ranked among the top-five in the conference’s current rebounding list.
Got any MAAC news or notes to share? Post them here.
| FIELD GOAL PCT | Cl | GP | FG | FGA | Pct | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Stewart, Daniel-RID | 9 | 46 | 71 | .648 | |
| 2. | Glover, Mike-ION | SR | 7 | 55 | 89 | .618 |
| 3. | Ridley, Taaj-ION | JR | 7 | 32 | 52 | .615 |
| 4. | Barrow, Maurice-FFD | 9 | 39 | 66 | .591 | |
| 5. | Washington, Harold-CAN | JR | 6 | 48 | 86 | .558 |
| 6. | Etherly, Erik-LOY | JR | 7 | 40 | 73 | .548 |
| 7. | Olander, Ryan-FFD | 9 | 42 | 78 | .538 | |
| 8. | Manhertz, Chris-CAN | SO | 6 | 19 | 36 | .528 |
| 9. | Price, Devin-MAR | 8 | 36 | 71 | .507 | |
| 10. | Sanders, Rakim-FFD | 9 | 62 | 123 | .504 | |
| 11. | Cormier, Dylon-LOY | SO | 7 | 40 | 82 | .488 |
| 12. | Machado, Scott-ION | SR | 7 | 38 | 78 | .487 |
| 13. | Lewis, Chavaughn-MAR | 8 | 36 | 74 | .486 | |
| 14. | Raymond, Yvon-SPC | 7 | 29 | 61 | .475 | |
| 15. | Beamon, George-MAN | 8 | 41 | 89 | .461 | |
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