Five Things to Know: Men's Basketball Set to Host Iona Friday Night

Game No. 23 - presented by Independent
Canisius (7-15, 3-8 MAAC) vs. Iona (18-3, 10-0 MAAC)
Date: Friday, Feb. 4, 2022
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Buffalo, N.Y. | Koessler Athletic Center
Video Broadcast: ESPN3
Talent: Jay Moran (pxp) and Richard Walsh (color)
Live Audio: Golden Griffin Broadcast Network; GoGriffs.com
Talent: Andy Helwig (pxp)
Live Stats: Through GoGriffs.com
Twitter: @Griffs_MBB | #Griffs; #MAACHoops

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. Canisius Puts Home Win Streak on the Line Friday
The Canisius men's basketball team will put its five-game home win streak on the line Friday night when the Golden Griffins play host to league-leading Iona at the Koessler Athletic Center. Game time is set for 7 p.m., and the contest will be broadcast live on ESPN3.

2. Series History vs. Iona
Friday's game will be the 79th all-time meeting between the Griffs and Gaels in a series that dates back to the 1954-55 campaign. Iona leads the series 45-33, which includes a current five-game win streak. The last time these two schools played was March 10, 2020 in the opening round of the 2020 MAAC Tournament in Atlantic City, N.J. Iona won that game 70-60, and two days later, the sports world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Gaels Getting National Notice
Iona travels to Wester New York this weekend after receiving six votes in the most recent Associated Press Top-25 poll. Iona has earned votes in two-straight weeks and three times this season. The last time Canisius played a MAAC team getting votes was Dec. 4, 2015, when Monmouth came to the Koessler Athletic Center. The Griffs won that game, 96-86.

4. Home Streaking
Canisius' current five-game home winning streak is the longest for the program since the Blue and Gold won five straight during the 2017-18 campaign. Canisius ranks third in the MAAC this season with its seven home victories. Iona has nine home wins to lead all MAAC schools this year so far.

5. Long is Strong on the Glass
Xzavier Long grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds in the Griffs' game at Siena on Tuesday, a season-high for the freshman from Washington, D.C. Long's 10 boards are the most for a Canisius freshman in a game since teammate Jacco Fritz had 12 rebounds at Niagara on Feb. 12, 2020. Long starts this weekend have grabbed multiple boards in 15 of his last 16 games played.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Jacco Fritz: F; 6' 10"; Junior

#25 Xzavier Long: F; 6' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#10 Jacco Fritz
: 6' 10"; Junior
: F

#25 Xzavier Long
: 6' 7"; Freshman
: F

Players Mentioned

#10 Jacco Fritz

#25 Xzavier Long

Players Mentioned

#10 Jacco Fritz

#25 Xzavier Long