Here are some notes as the Manhattan Men’s Basketball team (24-7) takes on Iona College (22-9) in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Championship game on 3/10/14:
For our Manhattan Fans:
JASPERS IN THE MAAC TITLE GAME
Manhattan last won a MAAC championship in 2004, the second of two consecutive titles. Head coach Steve Masiello was an assistant cocah on those squads and helped guide the 2003-04 team to a win over fifth-seeded Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament that season.
MAAC CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
The Jaspers have reached the MAAC championship game for the second straight season after earning a trip to the finals last year as the sixth seed. Below is a breakdown of the team’s history in MAAC title games:
2013: Iona 60, Manhattan 57
2004: Manhattan 62, Niagara 61
2003: Manhattan 69, Fairfield 54
1995: St. Peter’s 80, Manhattan 78 (OT)
1994: Loyola 80, Manhattan 75
1993: Manhattan 68, Niagara 67
1992: La Salle 79, Manhattan 78
EMMY AWARD WINNING
Junior Emmy Andujar had a fantastic all-around game against Iona on Friday, February 28. Andujar shattered his career high with 28 points on 12 of 18 made field goals. He pulled down six rebounds, dished out three assists and had three steals. Andujar also blocked Iona’s attempted driving layupat the end of regulation to keep the game tied. Andujar is averaging 15.2 points and 5.7 rebounds over Manhattan’s last six games.
KATES SOLID OFF THE BENCH
Junior Donovan Kates has provided a steady presence off the Manhattan bench this season. In the Jaspers’ quarterfinal win over Saint Peter’s, Kates made a number of hustle plays in the second half and finished with four points and three rebounds in 18 minutes.
For our Iona College fans:
THE GAELS IN MAAC TOURNAMENT PLAY
In 33 years as a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Iona has compiled an all-time record of 42-24 (.636) record in the league’s postseason tournament – including a league-record eight titles.
BUSTING THE (MAAC) BRACKET
• The No. 1 seed has reached the MAAC Championship game 20 times in the 33 championship events. Fourteen of the 19 previous times, the No. 1 was crowned MAAC Championship.
• The No.1 seed and No.2 seed have squared off in the final 13 times with the higher seed posting a 10-3 mark. The last time it occurred was in 2010.
TRENDING GAELS
• The Maroon & Gold have won 14 of its last 15 games and are 17-3 since the turn of the 2014 calendar. • The Gaels lead the nation in three-point field goals and have hit 10 or more trifectas a program record 22 total times this season. • Iona has committed 10 or less turnovers in 12 of its last 20 games and 17 times this season.
• The Gaels are one of six teams in NCAADivisionI to have four players averaging 13.0 or more points-per-game. (Lipscomb, Northwestern St., Oklahoma State, Qunnipiac, & Temple).
Photo Gallery from the Manhattan Men’s Basketball Practice can be seen here:
http://1495sports.com/2014/03/10/photo-gallery-inside-manhattan-mbb-practice/
Photo Gallery from the Iona Men’s Basketball Practice can be seen here:
http://1495sports.com/2014/03/10/photo-gallery-inside-iona-mbb-practice/
Video from the Manhattan College PreGame Media Session can be seen here:
http://1495sports.com/2014/03/10/video-manhattan-mbb-coach-steve-masiello-31014/
Videos from the Iona College PreGame Media Session can be seen here:
The Manhattan v Iona MAAC Championship game is set to air on the ESPN 2 network, with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
The notes from both teams were found from the Manhattan College Athletics Department and the Iona College Athletics Department.