GAME NOTES: The top seed in the 34th annual Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament heads back to the hardwood on Sunday afternoon, as the Iona Gaels clash with the Monmouth Hawks in the semifinals at the Times Union Center.

The Gaels, winners of this event an unprecedented eight times, managed to slip by host Siena on Saturday by a narrow 74-71 victory. The win was the 12th in the last 13 games for the program.

As for the fourth-seeded Hawks, one of the newest additions to the league after coming over from the Northeast Conference, they took care of Canisius in the quarterfinals on Saturday by a score of 60-54. The team has won two in a row after losing back-to-back decisions and is 3-0 versus the Golden Griffins on the campaign, with all three victories coming by six points or less.

During the regular season the Hawks played Iona tough, posting a 92-89 win in the conference opener in fact, back on Dec. 7. Almost three months later, the Gaels returned the favor by barely slipping by in a 69-68 final in New Rochelle.

The winner of this game goes for the tourney title on Monday night versus the survivor of the Saint Peter's/Manhattan contest.

Justin Robinson scored 16 points for Monmouth versus the Griffs, leading four players in double figures, as the Hawks managed to pick up the victory on Saturday despite shooting only 37.0 percent from the field. Deon Jones and Andrew Nicholas both added 11 points and Collin Stewart 10 for a squad that forced 17 turnovers and transformed those miscues into 20 points.

Robinson, the leading scorer for the Hawks in three of the last four games, is producing 13.5 ppg on the campaign overall, not to mention pacing the team with 117 assists and 53 steals as he puts his quick hands to work at both ends of the floor. Jones checks in with 12.7 ppg and is one of the better rebounders for the group with close to five boards per contest.

Against Siena, which was playing in familiar surroundings, the Gaels pretty much led the entire way thanks to 49.0 percent shooting from the floor and a 14-6 advantage at the free-throw line. A.J. English erupted for 32 points, converting 6-of-10 shots behind the 3-point line, followed by Isaiah Williams with a double-double consisting of 16 points and 11 rebounds, even as he slipped out to the perimeter to knock down 4-of-9 shots. Also logging a double-double was David Laury with 14 points and 11 more boards, not to mention four assists and three blocked shots.

English and Laury, both of whom were named All-MAAC performers this season, are averaging 19.9 ppg for one of the top scoring teams in the nation. English, who has converted a sensational 95 3-pointers and is clearing 5.1 rpg, has also handed out a team-high 158 assists and made 42 steals. Laury is responsible for 9.6 rpg, and yet the program is still being beaten on the glass by close to two rebounds per contest.

Even though the Hawks have played Iona close this season, the Gaels just seem to have an offense that won't quit and that will be tough to defend on short rest.