Five Things to Know: Men's Basketball Starts MAAC Tournament Play Monday

Game No. 13
2021 Hercules Tires MAAC Men's Basketball Championship - Opening Round
Canisius (7-5, 7-5 MAAC) vs. Rider (5-16, 5-13 MAAC)
Dates: Monday, March 8, 2021
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Atlantic City, N.J. | Boardwalk Hall
Video Broadcast: ESPN+
Talent: Eddy Occhipinti (pxp) an Chris Williams (analyst)
Live Audio: WECK-Radio Buffalo; Golden Griffin Broadcast Network
Talent: Andy Helwig (pxp)
Live Stats: Through MAACSports.com
Twitter: @Griffs_MBB | #Griffs; #MAACHoops
Official Tournament Program: CLICK HERE

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. This is March!
The Canisius men's basketball team opens play at the 2021 Hercules Tires MAAC Men's Basketball Championship on Monday night as the sixth-seeded Golden Griffins take on No. 11 seed Rider at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Canisius secured the No. 6 seed after the Blue and Gold went 7-5 through the regular season, capped by a come-from-behind victory at Siena on March 5. Monday's game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

2. So We Meet Again
The opening round meeting between Canisius and Rider will be the first game between the programs this season, as the previously scheduled contests in early February got washed out because of Canisius' 41-day COVID 19 "pause". The last time these two schools played was Feb. 7, 2020 - a 61-60 win for the Broncs in Lawrenceville, N.J. Canisius and Rider have met in the MAAC Tournament four previous times, with the Broncs holding a 3-1 lead in that portion of the series. Canisius' lone postseason win over the Broncs came in the 2002 MAAC Tournament in Albany - a game when the eighth-seeded Griffs took down the MAAC's regular season champ in overtime with an 85-84 win.

3. MAAC Tournament Tidbits
Canisius is playing in its 32nd MAAC Men's Basketball Championship... The Griffs have played at least one game conference postseason tournament games against every current member of the conference... The Griffs are 0-2 all-time in tournament games played in the state of New Jersey... Canisius has been the tournament's sixth-seed three previous times, most recently in 2011 when the event was held in Bridgeport, Conn.

4. What a Night, Your Majesty
Canisius senior Majesty Brandon closed out the regular season in style, as he scored 16 points, including the game-winning bucket, in the Griffs' come-back win at Siena March 5. In that game, Brandon poured in all 16 of his points after halftime, and seven of those come in the contest's final 3:00. His biggest bucket of the night was the last one, however, as the Bronx, N.Y., native put the Blue and Gold ahead for good with a hoop with just 11.9 seconds left to play.

5. It's Going for Green
Junior Malek Green leads the Griffs in both scoring average (13.3 points per game) and rebounding average (7.2 boards per outing) after he posted 12 points and eight rebounds in the win at Siena March 5. Green, who sat out last season after transferring from Morehead State, enters the tournament as one of four players in the MAAC to rank among the league's top-10 scorers and top-10 rebounders.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Majesty Brandon: G; 6' 0"; Senior

#2 Malek Green: F; 6' 7"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#15 Majesty Brandon
: 6' 0"; Senior
: G

#2 Malek Green
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

Players Mentioned

#15 Majesty Brandon

#2 Malek Green

Players Mentioned

#15 Majesty Brandon

#2 Malek Green