Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament Recaps

Springfield, MA (SportsNetwork.com) – Daniel Stewart finished with 25 points and nine rebounds as the Rider Broncs coasted to a 71-60 victory over the Monmouth Hawks in the opening game of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament at the MassMutual Center.

Stewart made six of his nine attempts from the floor and converted 12-of-14 shots at the charity stripe for Rider (14-16), which will play the top-seeded Iona Gaels in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Anthony Myles added 13 points, while Jimmie Taylor tallied 12 points and five boards.

Deon Jones paced the Hawks (11-21) with 18 points. Josh James contributed 11 points and six assists, while Andrew Nicholas scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds.

Stewart netted 14 points and the Broncs shot 40 percent from the floor in the first half en route to a 33-25 halftime lead. Monmouth committed nine turnovers and was outscored, 9-4- at the free-throw line in the opening period.

Jones was unstoppable after the break as he knocked down all five of his field goal tries and went 6-of-6 at the charity stripe for 16 second half points. Although the Hawks connected on 61.9 percent of their shots from the floor in the second half, they missed both of their 3-point field goal attempts in the period. Monmouth managed to take a 46-38 lead by the 11:19 mark of the second stanza, but Rider responded with a 17-2 run that put it in front for good.

The Broncs converted Monmouth’s 21 turnovers into 30 points and outscored the Hawks, 21-3, from beyond the arc.

Final Score: Saint Peter’s 65, Fairfield 62 (OT)

Springfield, MA (SportsNetwork.com) – Desi Washington drained a 3-pointer with a second remaining in overtime as the Saint Peter’s Peacocks defeated the Fairfield Stags 65-62 in the first round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament at MassMutual Center.

Washington scored 14 points for the seventh-seed Peacocks (14-16), who advance to take on second-seed Manhattan. Marvin Dominique posted a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds and Quadir Welton and Trevis Wyche each had 10 points.

Maurice Barrow netted 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting for the 10th-seed Stags (7-25). Steve Johnston chipped in 11 points and Justin Jenkins tacked on 11 as the only starter in double figures.

Although Fairfield hit on 44 percent from the field in the first half, compared to the 37.5 percent showing from Saint Peter’s, the teams were tied at 30-30 at halftime. The Peacocks kept pace thanks to a 10-4 scoring edge at the free-throw line.

Each team had only nine field goals in a nip and tuck second half. Johnston hit three consecutive free-throws with 3:26 to push Fairfield ahead 56-53. However, the teams would trade the lead twice in the last two minutes before Dominique split a pair at the free-throw line to tie the score at 58-58 and force overtime.

With the Stags down 62-60 with 12 seconds to play KJ Rose missed a shot around the basket for the Peacocks, but Barrow collected the rebound and evened the score with a putback. However, Washington saved the Peacocks from another extra session when he nailed the game-winner on the other end.

Final Score: Niagara 78, Marist 76

Springfield, MA (SportsNetwork.com) – Antoine Mason scored 38 points on 13- of-19 field goal shooting, as the Niagara Purple Eagles held on to defeat the Marist Red Foxes, 78-76, in the opening round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament at the MassMutual Center.

Marcus Ware registered a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Marvin Jordan added 11 points for the 11th-seeded Purple Eagles (7-25), who snapped a 10-game losing streak.

Chavaughn Lewis finished with 26 points for the sixth-seeded Red Foxes (12-19), who have lost four of their last five. Khallid Hart logged 20 points, while Adam Kemp chipped in 14 and nine rebounds.

Niagara drained a blistering 65.4 percent of its shots from the field in the opening frame, as it led 43-24 at the break. Marist made just 26.9 percent of its field goal attempts, including 2-of-8 from 3-point range.

In the second period, the Red Foxes connected on 48.4 percent of their shots from the floor, while taking 12 more field goal attempts than the Purple Eagles. Marist went on a 41-19 run that lasted just over 12 minutes to get within two points of Niagara with 16 seconds left. Mason missed two free- throws with 13 seconds, but Hart missed the potential go-ahead 3-pointer in the waning seconds as Niagara held on.

Niagara turned the ball over 18 times, seven more than Marist.

The Purple Eagles will face third-seeded Quinnipiac in Saturday’s quarterfinals.

Categorized in: NCAA Basketball