EDISON, NJ (Mar. 9, 2024) – Following Saturday’s regular season finales, the field is officially set for the 2024 Hercules Tire Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men’s Basketball Championship. The annual conference tournament will take place from March 12-16 at historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The top-five teams in the championship field earn a bye in the opening round. Receiving an opening round bye are first-time MAAC Regular Season Champions and top overall seed, No. 1 Quinnipiac University (23-8, 15-5 MAAC), No. 2 Fairfield University (20-11, 14-6 MAAC), No. 3 Marist College (17-12, 12-8 MAAC), No. 4 Rider University (15-16, 12-8 MAAC), and No. 5 Saint Peter’s University (16-13, 12-8 MAAC).
The opening-round tips-off on Tuesday, March 12 with three games on the docket. Tipping off the 2024 championship will be No. 8 Mount St. Mary’s (13-18, 9-11 MAAC) and No. 9 Canisius University (13-17, 8-12) at 5:15 p.m. During the regular season meetings, the home team protected its home court in both games, producing a series split. The Mount took care of business in Emmitsburg, MD on January 5, winning 74-69. In Buffalo, NY on March 1, the Golden Griffins snagged a 61-56 home win to even the series. The winner will meet No. 1 Quinnipiac in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Game two of the opening round features New York City rivalry, No. 7 Iona University (15-16, 10-10 MAAC) and No. 10 Manhattan College (7-22, 4-16 MAAC) at 7:30 p.m. The rivals split the regular season series, with the home team taking both matchups. In New Rochelle on February 16, the Gaels earned a 10-point, 73-63 victory. The Jaspers would avenge the loss with a 17-point, 77-60 win in Riverdale on March 7. The advancing team will clash with No. 2 Fairfield in the quarters on March 13 at 9:00 p.m.
The final contest of opening round action will tip at 9:45 p.m. on Tuesday night and it will be a date between No. 6 Niagara University (15-15, 11-9 MAAC) and No. 11 Siena College (4-27, 3-17 MAAC). The visiting squad picked up road wins in both regular season contests between the teams in the series. The Saints won the opening game on January 15, 93-88, while the Purple Eagles secured a 66-59 victory in the final matchup on March 7. The victor will have a day off before facing No. 3 Marist in the first game of day two’s quarterfinals on Thursday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m.
The final predetermined contest will be in the quarterfinal round and it will feature New Jersey rivals, No. 4 Rider and No. 5 Saint Peter’s on Thursday at 9:00 p.m. The Broncs earned the head-to-head season tiebreaker, taking both meetings from their rival Peacocks. On January 25, Rider garnered a 62-57 road win and in the Broncs season-finale this past Thursday, March 7, Rider grinded out a 61-56 win.
All games during the 2024 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s Basketball Championship will broadcast live on ESPN+. Friday’s two semifinal contests will air live on ESPNews and Saturday’s championship title game will air nationally on ESPNU in primetime at 7:30 p.m.
| Round |
Game |
Matchup |
Date |
Times |
Network |
| Opening Round |
Game 1 |
No. 8 Mount St. Mary's vs. No. 9 Canisius |
March 12 |
5:15 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Opening Round |
Game 2 |
No. 7 Iona vs. No. 10 Manhattan |
March 12 |
7:30 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Opening Round |
Game 3 |
No. 6 Niagara vs. No. 11 Siena |
March 12 |
9:45 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinal |
Game 4 |
No. 1 Quinnipiac vs. Winner Game 1 |
March 13 |
6:30 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinal |
Game 5 |
No. 2 Fairfield vs. Winner Game 2 |
March 13 |
9:00 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinal |
Game 6 |
No. 3 Marist vs. Winner Game 3 |
March 14 |
6:30 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinal |
Game 7 |
No. 4 Rider vs. No. 5 Saint Peter's |
March 14 |
9:00 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Semifinal |
Game 8 |
Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 7 |
March 15 |
6:30 PM |
ESPNews/+ |
| Semifinal |
Game 9 |
Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 |
March 15 |
9:00 PM |
ESPNews/+ |
| Championship |
Game 10 |
Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9 |
March 16 |
7:30 PM |
ESPNU/+ |
The 2023-24 campaign culminates with the 2024 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships from March 12-16 at Atlantic City's Historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall for the fifth consecutive year dating back to 2020. For all information regarding the 2024 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, please visit
MAACSports.com/basketball and by following @MAACHoops and #MAACHoops on Twitter.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 43rd year of competition during the 2023-24 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College. Merrimack College and Sacred Heart University will join the MAAC as full members in the 2024-25 academic year, expanding the conference to 13 institutions.
Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on
Twitter,
Facebook,
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Threads or visit
MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.