Three Games on ESPN Platforms Friday
MAAC Sports
Edison, N.J. - Three MAAC basketball games will be featured on ESPN platforms on Friday, Feb. 15.
Marist College's McCann Arena will host a men's and women's doubleheader between the Red Foxes and Niagara University. The women will play at 5 p.m., live on ESPNU and WatchESPN.com. The men will tip off at 8 p.m., with the contest available on ESPN3.
The Niagara women are 12-11 overall and 7-5 in MAAC play. The Purple Eagles are led by Lauren Gatto, who is averaging 15.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, and Meghan McGuiness, who is contributing 9.2 points and 4.0 caroms an outing. The Marist women are 17-6 overall and 12-0 in the MAAC standings. The Red Foxes are led by Elizabeth Beynnon, who is posting 11.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, and Emma O'Connor, who is recording 9.5 points and 4.6 rebounds an outing.
In their first meeting on Jan. 20, Marist took home a 71-51 win over Niagara at the Gallagher Center. Beynnon netted 17 points, while Sydney Coffey came off the bench for 16 points. O'Connor added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Red Foxes. Gatto registered team-highs of 12 points and eight rebounds for the Purple Eagles, while Sylvia Maxwell posted 11 points and seven rebounds.
The Niagara men are currently 14-11 overall and 10-4 in the MAAC. Antoine Mason is averaging 18.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, and Juan'ya Green is adding 16.5 points and 5.2 assists a night for the Purple Eagles. The Marist men are 7-18 overall and 4-10 in league play. Chavaughn Lewis is averaging 15.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, and Devin Price is netting 14.0 points and grabbing 2.6 boards an outing for the Red Foxes.
On Jan. 3, Ameen Tanksley scored 17 of his 22 points in the first half and pulled down 12 rebounds to lift Niagara over Marist, 94-72, at the Gallagher Center. Green had 21 points, five assists and four rebounds, Mason added 17 points and Malcolm Lemmons scored 11 for the Purple Eagles, who hit 52 percent (35 of 67) of their shots. Niagara, playing in its first game since Dec. 21, scored 16 of the first 18 points to open the first half. Marist cut the deficit to 38-26 behind a Lewis three-point play with 3:22 left, but Niagara closed the half on a 23-4 run to take a 51-30 lead into intermission. Lewis led Marist with 17 points.
On ESPNU and WatchESPN.com, the women's contest will be followed by Manhattan College vs. Iona College from Draddy Gymnasium at 7 p.m. The Gaels, 15-10 overall and 9-5 in the MAAC, are led by Lamont Jones, who is averaging a league-high 22.9 points per game and dishing out 3.8 assists per game, and Sean Armand, who is netting 18.0 points and pulling down 5.4 rebounds a night for the Maroon and Gold. The Jaspers, 9-15 overall and 7-7 in conference action, are led by Rhamel Brown, who is registering 11.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, as well as Michael Alvarado, who is averaging 8.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
In their first meeting this season on Jan. 6, Jones scored 22 of his 30 points in the second half as Iona rallied from a six-point halftime deficit to defeat Manhattan, 78-70, at the Hynes Center. A layup and two 3-pointers by Jones in the opening 1:15 of the second half gave the Gaels a 38-37 lead. After the Jaspers went back in front, Tre Bowman's 3-pointer with 12:56 remaining put Iona ahead to stay, 51-48. The Gaels made 10 of 16 three-pointers, including 8 of 9 in the second half. Jones was 4-for-5 on 3s and 10-for-10 on free throws. Taaj Ridley added 14 and Tavon Sledge had eight assists for Iona. Emmy Andujar scored 17 points for Manhattan, while Brown had 16 points, nine rebounds and seven blocked shots.