Post-Season Tourney Results For MAAC Teams

Keepin' up of the results of MAAC teams still involved in post-season play ...

IONA MEN LOSE IN NIT OPENER

The Gaels lost an 89-88 decision to Louisiana Tech in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament played at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston, La., when the winners' Kenneth Smith converted on a put-back bucket with 2.2 seconds left to play.

Iona, which finishes at 22-11, had a lead with 12.3 second remaining when senior guard Sean Armand was fouled and made both free throws to give his team an 88-87 edge.

Louisiana Tech's Alex Hamilton then missed a 15-footer, but Smith got the rebound and put-back bucket for the final score. Iona could only manage a 60-foot heave that hit the back of the rim but did not fall in.

Iona's junior post player was outstanding, scoring 21 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in the contest. Teammate and sophomore guard A.J. English also had 21 points, including 19 in the first half. He also had six assists.

Despite the loss, the season marked the fifth straight season of at least 20 victories for Iona, the last four under current head coach Tim Cluess. Iona has also appeared in a national postseason tournament in each of the last four seasons.

CANISIUS MEN FALL IN CIT OPENER

Points were plentiful, but the nation's top-scoring team put up more than host Canisius, as VMI took a 111-100 victory Tuesday night in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament at the Koessler Athletic Center in Buffalo.

The winners got a career-high 37 points from senior D.J. Covington, and another senior, Rodney Glasgow added 28 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

The victory was VMI's first in a national post-season event since 1977.

The combined total of 211 points set a Koessler Athletic Center scoring record, and VMI's 111-point effort was also a record for an opposing team in the facility, erasing the previous mark of 103 set by Saint Peter's.

The Golden Griffins had four players score in double figures, led by senior guards Chris Perez, who had a season-high 30 points, and Billy Baron, who had 25 points, eight assists and five rebounds.

Baron finishes his two seasons in the program with 1,406 points, the 11th-best in school history. His 351 career assists is ninth in Canisius history.


QUINNIPIAC WOMEN LOSE WNIT OPENER

The Bobcats lost a 74-66 decision to Villanova in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament Wednesday in Philadelphia.

The first-year MAAC member finishes with an overall record of 21-13.

Senior forward Brittany McQuain had 19 points, seven rebounds and two seteals in the contest. She finishes her career with 1,439 points, fifth in school history, and 1,109 rebounds, second ever at Quinnipiac.

Teammate Samantha Guastella also had a strong game with 15 points and 10 rebounds, as did forward Nikoline Ostergaard (11 points, eight rebounds) and guard Gillian Abshire (12 points, eight assists).

Devon Kane led Villanova with 24 points.

Quinnipiac finishes with at least 20 victories for the third straight year.