Unlikely Leaders Top MAAC Men's Hoops Standings
MAAC Sports
EDISON, N.J. – At the conclusion of the December Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference league slate, Canisius College, Fairfield University, and Monmouth University lead the standings with 2-0 marks apiece.
None of the three current unbeaten teams in league play were selected higher than sixth in the coaches’ preseason polls, and all three teams earned victories over teams that were selected in the top four of the polls to open up the conference schedule.
On Dec. 3, Canisius (10th in preseason poll) defeated Saint Peter’s (fourth in the poll), 60-57, at the Yanitelli Center on Saint Peter’s campus. On Dec. 5, Fairfield (ninth in the poll) defeated Manhattan (defending MAAC Champion and third in the poll), 67-54, at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. On Dec. 7, Monmouth (sixth in the poll) edged Iona (preseason favorite and defending regular season champion), 92-89, at the MAC in West Long Branch, New Jersey, to close out the weekend schedule.
Monmouth earned its first win of the week by beating Marist, 57-50, on Dec. 4 at McCann Arena on Marist College campus. Canisius picked up its second victory in a 77-64 rivalry win at Niagara on ESPN3 to open up the MAAC broadcast schedule. Fairfield’s final win of the week came in its rivalry matchup against Quinnipiac in a 56-52 road win at TD Bank Sports Center, in Hamden, Connecticut.
Other league contest results from the week include; Siena knocking off Quinnipiac, 88-67, at the Times Union Center (Dec. 5), Manhattan beating Marist, 60-38, at home in Riverdale, New York (Dec. 7), Rider topping Siena, 80-68, at home (Dec. 7), and Iona defeating Rider, 77-64, in New Rochelle, New York (Dec. 10).
Iona, Manhattan, Niagara, Rider, and Siena currently sit tied in fourth at an even 1-1 in conference play heading back into non-conference action, while Marist, Quinnipiac, and Saint Peter’s hold 0-2 records.
The 2015 season culminates at the 2015 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York, March 5-9. Tickets for the championships are available online at ticketmaster.com.
For the full men’s basketball schedule, visits maacsports.com and remember to follow the conversation on twitter using #MAACHoops and #MAACHoops15.