ESPN Announces MAAC Wildcard Games for January 29

Courtesy of MAACSports.com

EDISON, NJ – ESPN has announced the two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball wildcard matchups for January 29. On ESPNU, Iona College welcomes Manhattan to the Hynes Athletic Center at 7:00 p.m. in a rematch of the last three MAAC men’s basketball championship games, while Fairfield University hosts Canisius at Webster Bank Arena on ESPN3 at 7:00 p.m.

The Gaels and Jaspers meet for the first time this season. Iona and Manhattan have met in the last three MAAC Championship Games with Iona winning in 2013, and Manhattan winning the last two in 2014 and 2015. This season, the Gaels lead the MAAC with a 6-0 record. The Jaspers are 3-3 in conference play. Fairfield and Canisius square off for the first time in the 2015-16 season. Fairfield is currently 2-3 in the MAAC while Canisius holds a 2-4 conference record.

The MAAC telecast schedule features an all-time high of 13 wildcard games during the 2015-16 season. The wildcard format allows ESPN to pick any game on schedule for the selected date to air on the designated platform (ESPN2, ESPNU, or ESPN3). ESPN will announce which game has been selected for the wildcard telecast 21 days out. The format enables the MAAC and ESPN flexibility to showcase the best possible matchups.

The 2015-16 MAAC season culminates at the 2016 MAAC Basketball Championships, March 3-7, at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York. The 2016 MAAC Championship title game will take place on Monday, March 7 at 7:00 p.m. and will air live on ESPN with the winner earning the leagues automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

For more information on MAAC men’s basketball, visits maacsports.com and remember to follow the conversation on social media using #MAACHoops and #MAAC35.