By Paul Casey Gotham
SPRINGFIELD, MA. — Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s quarter-finals coming at you today from the MassMutual Center. Pickin Splinters is court side with updates.
2:30 #4 Fairfield vs. #5 Rider
4:30 #1Iona vs. #8 Marist
7:30 #2 Loyola vs. #7 Niagara
9:30 #3 Manhattan vs. #6 Siena
Starters for Fairfield: Wade, Barrow, Olander, Sanders, Nickerson,
Rider starters: Thompson, Stewart, Gadson, Jones, Penn
No surprise, Rider starts in a 2-3. Can the Stags get a perimeter going…without Derek Needham?
U16 – Rider 10-5
Not what Fairfield wants to see – Ryan Olander picks up his second foul.
Rider 2 assists on 3-of-5 shooting from the floor.
Fairfield 2 assists on 2-of-6 shooting.
Sean Crawford gives Fairfield hope with a three from the left corner.
U12-Fairfield outrebounds in the last 4 minutes and close the gap 11-10. Stags getting some mileage taking the ball to the basket early in the shot clock. Jamel Fields and Rakim Sanders both got to the line for the Stags.
U8 Fairfield 18 Rider 13. That is not a misprint. After getting called for a shot clock violation and missing three straight (air ball, off the side of the board UGLY), the Stags make their next 4-of-5. Interior passing is the way for Faifield. Unofficial stat 15 of Fairfield’s 18 have come from in the paint or at the line.
Rider has hit one of their last ten shots.
U4 Fairfield 19-12. The Stags have outrebounded Rider 17-8 since the U16.
Faifield has six assists on 7 FGs.
Freshman Eddie Mitchell announced his arrival with a pair of strong layups.
Halftime – Fairfield 22 Rider 19
Seems like Fairfield is holding up in their first test without Derek Needham.
Novar Gadson is 0-for-6 from the floor for Rider. After hitting 3 of the first five shots, Rider goes 4-for-18. Fairfield has seven assists on 8 field goals – Desmond Wade and Maurice Barrow have two dimes apiece.
SMITTY! From Philly to Springfield! Fairfield is not giving the Broncs many good looks at the basket.
U16 Fairfield 33-23. Stags have started the half with four assists on 4 FGS.
U12 Fairfield 35-28. Rider has not hit a 3 in more than 24 minutes. Fairfield 12 assists on 13 FGS.
U8 Fairfield 39-37. On cue, Rider hit three straight from long range. Highlight: 6′ Eddie Mitchell dunks over 7′ Ryan Olander waved off for a charge.
Rakim Sanders with 4 fouls.
After going a combined 3-for-22 from long range in the first half, Rider and Fairfield have hit 7 from behind the arc in the 2nd half.
Fairfield 49-47
Stags will play the remaining 3:56 with Sanders and Olander each having four fouls.
3:06 and Rider has not pressed …yet.
Rider takes a TO with 2:44. What’s that I smell? Is it a press?
Fairfield 53-48.
59.6 to go. Fairfield 59-53. Olander and Wade hit back-to-back threes.
Maurice Barrow and Ryan Olander have both fouled out.
30.3 to go. Fairfield 61-56.
19 ticks to go. Rider timeout.
Fairfield 63-59.
Final Fairfield 65-62.
Iona and Marist in 19:00.
u12 Marist 18-13. That is not a typo. The Red Foxes have started out 7-of-14 from the field. Chavaughn Lewis has six and Isaiah Morton 5.
U8 Marist still leads 23-21. The Red Foxes continue shooting well: 9-of-18 from floor, 2-of-4 behind the arc.
Marist has the horses to run the floor with Iona …at least for now. Will see how long this lasts.
First time seeing Chavauhn Lewis plays. Yowza!
U4 all tied at 27. The Gaels shot 3-of-6 in the last four minutes. Marist is slowing down – 2-of-5 since the last Media Timeout.
Halftime: Iona 35 Marist 33.
Marist has 19-17 edge on the boards.
Just like that – Iona 49 Marist 36
Gaels have scored on four straight possessions.
After starting 9-of-18 from the field, Marist has gone 6-of-20 since. Iona has something to do with it.
But hey the Marist band just kicked into Born To Run. Life is good.
Tramps like us….
Any truth to the rumor that Scott Machado has not just a fifth gear but a sixth gear that no one else has??
U12 Iona 57-46. Marist is 0-for their last-7 behind the arc.
After starting the game 5-of-13, Iona has hit 19 of their last 30.
And oh yeah Scott Machado has eight assists.
I don’t see gears when I look at Machado. I see control. He is rarely outside of himself.
U8 Iona 67-56.
A pair of Isaiah Morton threes are keeping the Red Foxes within a sniff.
Iona was on an 8-2 run before Morton delivered.
2:28 to go – Iona 78 Marist 61. Michael Glover has 29.
Final Iona 87-63
Glover led four in double figures with 29.
Ina shot 34-of-60.
U16 Niagara 8 Loyola 7. Shane Walker has five for Loyola. Joe Thomas five for Niagara.
U12 Loyola 17 Niagara. 11:55 to go in the half and Loyola has 9 fouls. Yes, chances are NU will be in the double bonus for 10 minutes.
Loyola is 6-for-9 from the floor.
U8 all tied at 22.
Niagara on a 10-5 run.
Loyola has taken just one 3 point attempt.
U4 Loyola 29-28.
Despite being whistled for 12 fouls to Niagara’s 8, Loyola leads from the line.
The Greyhounds are 11-14.
NU 7-11.
Halftime: All tied at 37. Niagara has seven on 12 FGs. Juan’ya Green leads the way with four.
Shane Walker and Erik Etherly nine apiece. Loyola is outscoring Niagara in the paint: 22-14.
U12 Loyola 59 Niagara 53.
Niagara is 17-of-42 from the floor but 7-of-13 from behind the arc.
Juan’ya Green has six of NU’s 11 assists.
Loyola is 10-of-15 from the floor this half.
7:35 timeout on the floor.
Loyola 65-58.
The Greyhounds are 12-17 from the floor including 4-5 behind the arc this half.
U4 Loyola 74-65
Greyhounds continue hot shooting in the second half: 15-of-22/5-of-7 from behind the arc.
Final: Loyola 86 Niagara73
Dylon Cormier 23 points
Erik Etherly 21
Siena and Manhattan up next.
U16
Manhattan 12 Siena 9.
The Jaspers are 5-of-6 from the floor in the early going. It helps when three of those are dunks.
U12 Manhattan 26-21
The Jaspers have started out shooting 9-of-13 including 6-of-7 behind the arc. GEORGE BEAMON is 4-4 from long range.
All that and Siena only trails by 5.
U8 Manhattan 29-28.
Manhattan and Siena have combined to go 11-for-15 from behind the arc.