2021 MAAC men's basketball tournament

The 2021 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament was the postseason men's basketball tournament for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The tournament was played from March 8–13, 2021 at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey for the second year in a row.[3] Since 2020's tournament was never fully completed, the defending champions were the 2018–19 Iona Gaels.

2021 MAAC men's basketball tournament
ClassificationDivision I
Season2020–21
Teams11
SiteJim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, New Jersey
ChampionsIona (13th title)
Winning coachRick Pitino (1st title)
MVPAsante Gist (Iona)
Top scorerAsante Gist (Iona)
(65 points)
TelevisionESPNews, ESPNU, ESPN+
← 2020
2022 →
2020–21 MAAC men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Siena 12 4   .750 12 5   .706
Monmouth 12 6   .667 12 8   .600
Saint Peter's 10 8   .556 14 11   .560
Marist 10 8   .556 12 9   .571
Niagara 7 9   .438 9 11   .450
Canisius 7 5   .583 7 6   .538
Fairfield 7 11   .389 10 17   .370
Quinnipiac 7 10   .412 9 13   .409
Iona 6 3   .667 12 6   .667
Manhattan 6 12   .333 7 13   .350
Rider 5 13   .278 6 17   .261
Note: The MAAC has ordered standings based on league wins, not winning percentage, since all teams did not reach 20 conference games played. These standings were also used for seeding purposes in the 2021 MAAC tournament.[1][2]
2021 MAAC tournament winner

No. 9 seeded Iona won the 2021 MAAC Men's Basketball Tournament, defeating No. 7 seed Fairfield 60–51 in the championship game for their MAAC leading 13th championship. Their tournament run included knocking off top-seeded Siena in the quarterfinals, improving their record against the Saints in the MAAC Tournament to 11–0. This made it five consecutive MAAC Tournament championships for Iona, and the first time that a No. 9 seed reached and won the championship game. Iona received the MAAC's automatic bid to the 2021 NCAA tournament and were given a No. 15 seed.

Seeds

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All 11 teams in the conference participated in the tournament. The top five teams received byes to the quarterfinals. New procedures took effect for this season, as it was official that not all MAAC teams reached the originally scheduled 20 conference game mark. Team seeding was based on overall conference regular season wins – not including any third games scheduled between teams in lieu of non-conference opponents. A tiebreaker system to seed teams with identical conference records was also used.[4]

Seed School Conference Tiebreaker 1 Tiebreaker 2 Tiebreaker 3
1 Siena 12–3 2 wins vs MON (1)
2 Monmouth 12–6 0 wins vs SIE (2)
3 Saint Peter's 10–8 1 win vs MAR [3] 2 wins vs SIE & MON (3)
4 Marist 10–8 1 win vs SPC [3] 1 win vs SIE & MON (4)
5 Niagara 7–9 3 wins vs CAN, FF, QUINN [5] 0 wins vs CAN [5] 2 wins vs SIE & MON (5)
6 Canisius 7–5 3 wins vs NIA, FF, QUINN [5] 0 wins vs NIA [5] 1 win vs SIE & MON (6)
7 Fairfield 7–11 2 wins vs NIA, CAN, QUINN [7] 1 win vs QUINN [7] 2 wins vs SPC & MAR (7)
8 Quinnipiac 7–10 2 wins vs NIA, CAN, FF [7] 1 win vs FF [7] 1 win vs SPC & MAR (8)
9 Iona 6–3 1 win vs MAN [9] 2 wins vs SIE & MON (9)
10 Manhattan 6–12 1 win vs IONA [9] 0 wins vs SIE & MON (10)
11 Rider 5–13

Schedule

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[5]

Session Game Time* Matchup Score Attendance Television
First Round – Monday, March 8
1 1 7:00 pm No. 6 Canisius vs No. 11 Rider 76–78 ESPN+
First Round– Tuesday, March 9
2 2 5:00 pm No. 8 Quinnipiac vs No. 9 Iona 48–72 ESPN+
3 7:30 pm No. 7 Fairfield vs No. 10 Manhattan 59–58OT
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, March 10
3 4 5:00 pm No. 1 Siena vs No. 9 Iona 52–55 ESPN+
5 7:30 pm No. 2 Monmouth vs No. 7 Fairfield 60–79
Quarterfinals – Thursday, March 11
4 6 5:00 pm No. 3 Saint Peter's vs No. 11 Rider 75–60 ESPN+
7 7:30 pm No. 4 Marist vs No. 5 Niagara 62–67
Semifinals – Friday, March 12
5 8 5:30 pm No. 5 Niagara vs No. 9 Iona 64–70 ESPNews
9 8:00 pm No. 3 Saint Peter's vs No. 7 Fairfield 47–52 ESPNU
Championship – Saturday, March 13
6 10 4:00 pm No. 7 Fairfield vs No. 9 Iona 51–60 ESPNU
*Game times in ET. ( )-Rankings denote tournament seeding.

*Attendance is restricted to family and special guests due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Bracket

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First round
Monday/Tuesday, March 8/9
Quarterfinals
Wednesday/Thursday, March 10/11
Semifinals
Friday, March 12
Championship
Saturday, March 13
            
1 Siena 52
9 Iona 55
8 Quinnipiac 48
9 Iona 72
9 Iona 70
5 Niagara 64
4 Marist 62
5 Niagara 67
9 Iona 60
7 Fairfield 51
2 Monmouth 60
7 Fairfield 79
7 Fairfield 59
10 Manhattan 58OT
7 Fairfield 52
3 Saint Peter's 47
3 Saint Peter's 75
11 Rider 58
6 Canisius 76
11 Rider 78

* denotes number of overtimes

Game summaries

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First round

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ESPN+
March 8, 2021
7:00 pm
No. 6 Canisius 76, No. 11 Rider 78
Scoring by half: 42–36, 34–42
Pts: Henderson – 16
Rebs: Harried – 8
Asts: Fofana – 3
M. Green – 13 pts, 6 reb, 2 blk
Pts: Murray, Jr. – 22
Rebs: McQuarter – 11
Asts: Murray, Jr. – 5
Powell – 19 pts, 2 stl
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, NJ
Attendance: 0
Referees: Ron Tyburski, Adam Vandenburgh, Matt Palumb

 

ESPN+
March 9, 2021
5:00 pm
No. 8 Quinnipiac 48, No. 9 Iona 72
Scoring by half: 20–25, 28–47
Pts: Kortright – 7
Rebs: Rigoni – 6
Asts: Lewis – 8
Kortright 4 reb, 1 stl
Pts: Ross – 15
Rebs: JeanLouis – 11
Asts: 4 tied – 2
van Eyck – 10 reb. Shema – 9 pts, 10 reb
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, NJ
Attendance: 0
Referees: Adam Vandenburgh, Ryan Corbett, Mike Kitts, Jr.
ESPN+
March 9, 2021
7:30 pm
No. 7 Fairfield 59, No. 10 Manhattan 58 (OT)
Scoring by half: 16–25, 34–25 Overtime: 9–8
Pts: Cruz – 16
Rebs: Benning – 8
Asts: Green & Benning – 2
Wojcik – 15 pts, 5 reb. Benning – 9 pts, 3 stl
Pts: Nelson – 16
Rebs: Diallo & Nelson – 11
Asts: Stewart – 5
Buchanan – 9 pts, 6 reb, 3 blk
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, NJ
Attendance: 0
Referees: Ron Tyburski, Tony Meeks, Andy O'Brien

Quarterfinals

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ESPN+
March 10, 2021
5:00 pm
No. 1 Siena 52, No. 9 Iona 55
Scoring by half: 24–21, 28–34
Pts: Stormo – 14
Rebs: Pickett – 8
Asts: Pickett – 5
Pickett – 13 pts
Pts: Gist – 16
Rebs: Jr. Joseph & van Eyck – 8
Asts: Gist & Jr. Joseph – 3
Ross – 14pts, 7 reb. JeanLouis – 13 pts, 5 stl
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, NJ
Attendance: 0
Referees: Matt Palumb, Ryan Corbett, Mike Kitts, Jr.
ESPN+
March 10, 2021
7:30 pm
No. 2 Monmouth 60, No. 7 Fairfield 79
Scoring by half: 34–41, 26–38
Pts: M. Martin – 12
Rebs: McClary – 5
Asts: D. Hammond – 3
Papas – 9 pts, 3 stl, 3 reb
Pts: Benning – 24
Rebs: Cook – 14
Asts: C. Green – 4
Benning – 12 reb, 2 blk. Cook – 11 pts
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, NJ
Attendance: 0
Referees: Kal Sabie, Andy O'Brien, Adam Vandenburgh

 

ESPN+
March 11, 2021
5:00 pm
No. 3 Saint Peter's 75, No. 11 Rider 60
Scoring by half: 33–36, 42–24
Pts: Banks III – 20
Rebs: Ndefo – 7
Asts: Ndefo & Lee – 4
Ndefo – 18 pts, 1 blk, 1 stl
Pts: Murray, Jr. & Henderson, Jr. – 15
Rebs: Murray, Jr. – 5
Asts: Murray, Jr. – 5
Henderson, Jr. – 3 stl
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, NJ
Attendance: 0
Referees: Ron Tyburski, Tony Meeks, Matt Palumb
ESPN+
March 11, 2021
7:30 pm
No. 4 Marist 62, No. 5 Niagara 67
Scoring by half: 20–28, 42–39
Pts: Jones – 14
Rebs: Jones – 10
Asts: Wright & Sullivan – 2
Herasme – 11 pts, 7 reb
Pts: Solomon – 17
Rebs: M. Hammond – 9
Asts: Solomon – 4
Nwandu – 15 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 3 blk
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, NJ
Attendance: 0
Referees: Andy O'Brien, Michael Kitts, Ryan Corbett

Semifinals

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ESPNews
March 12, 2021
5:30 pm
No. 9 Iona 70, No. 5 Niagara 64
Scoring by half: 43–25, 27–39
Pts: Gist – 19
Rebs: Jr. Joseph – 9
Asts: Gist – 5
van Eyck – 14 pts, 5 reb
Pts: Solomon – 21
Rebs: Solomon – 8
Asts: M. Hammond – 5
Nwandu – 16 pts, 3 reb, 2 stl
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, NJ
Attendance: 0
Referees: Andy O'Brien, Adam Vandenburgh, Mike Kitts, Jr.
ESPNU
March 12, 2021
8:00 pm
No. 7 Fairfield 52, No. 3 Saint Peter's 47
Scoring by half: 22–24, 23–30
Pts: Green – 14
Rebs: Wojcik – 7
Asts: Cruz & Crisler – 2
Cruz – 12 pts, 3 reb, 1 stl, 2 blk
Pts: Edert & Ndefo – 11
Rebs: Ndefo – 12
Asts: Lee – 5
Ndefo – 5 blk
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, NJ
Attendance: 0
Referees: Ron Tyburski, Brandon Cruz, Ryan Corbett

Championship

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ESPNU
March 13, 2021
4:00 pm
No. 9 Iona 60, No. 7 Fairfield 51
Scoring by half: 30–18, 30–33
Pts: Gist – 18
Rebs: Jr. Joseph – 11
Asts: JeanLouis – 4
Jr. Joseph – 12 pts, 1 stl, 3 blk
Pts: Wojcik – 13
Rebs: Wojcik – 8
Asts: Green – 3
Benning – 11 pts, 4 reb. Wojcik – 3 stl
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, NJ
Attendance: 0
Referees: Brandon Cruz, Andy O'Brien, Adam Vandenburgh

Team and tournament leaders

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Team leaders

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Team Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks Minutes W – L
Canisius J. Henderson 16 Harried 8 Fofana 3 Fritz 2 Green 2 J. Henderson 36 0–1
Fairfield Wojcik 51 Benning 30 Green 10 Benning 5 Benning & Cruz 4 Wojcik 153 3–1
Iona Gist 65 Jr. Joseph 37 Gist 11 JeanLouis 9 Jr. Joseph 3 Ross 149 4–0
Manhattan Nelson 16 Nelson & Diallo 11 Stewart 5 Nelson & Ebube 2 Buchanan 3 Stewart 40 0–1
Marist Jones 14 Jones 10 Wright & Sullivan 2 3 tied 1 Bell 2 Herasme 33 0–1
Monmouth Martin 13 McClary 5 D. Hammond 3 3 tied 3 Ruth 2 Papas 35 0–1
Niagara Solomon 38 M. Hammond 14 M. Hammond 7 MacDonald 5 Nwandu 3 M. Hammond 76 1–1
Quinnipiac Kortright 7 Rigoni 6 Lewis 8 5 tied 1 Pinkney & Chenery 1 Rigoni 29 0–1
Rider Murray Jr. 37 McQuarter 12 Murray Jr. 10 McQuarter & Henderson Jr. 3 Henderson Jr. 2 Murray Jr. 74 1–1
Saint Peter's Ndefo 29 Ndefo 19 Lee 9 Lee 4 Ndefo 6 Edert 72 1–1
Siena Stormo 14 Pickett 8 Pickett 5 Camper 3 Stormo 3 Camper 40 0–1

All-championship team

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2021 MAAC Men's Basketball All-Championship Team[6]
  • Raheem Solomon, Niagara – 19 ppg, 6.5 rpg
  • KC Ndefo, Saint Peter's – 14.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3 bpg
  • Jake Wojcik, Fairfield – 12.8 ppg, 6 rpg, 38.3 mpg
  • Taj Benning, Fairfield – 11.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 37 mpg
  • Berrick Jeanlouis, Iona – 8.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 36.8 mpg
  • Isaiah Ross, Iona – 11.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 37.3 mpg
  • MVP Asante Gist, Iona – 16.3 ppg, 2.8 apg, 32.8 mpg

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2020-21 Basketball Tiebreakers" (PDF). MAAC Sports. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  2. ^ "2020-21 Men's Basketball Standings". MAAC Sports. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  3. ^ "2020 MAAC Men's & Women's Basketball Championships". Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  4. ^ "MAAC Men's Basketball Schedule Update". MAAC Sports. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "2021 Hercules Tires Men's Basketball Championship". MAAC Sports. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  6. ^ "Iona Wins the 2021 MAAC Men's Basketball Championship". MAAC Sports. Retrieved March 13, 2021.