ALBANY – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference basketball is coming back to Albany.

On Tuesday, the MAAC Council of Presidents voted unanimously to return the league’s men’s and women’s postseason tournaments to the Times Union Center in 2015, for a three-year stay.

“We’re going to flourish as a school, as the league flourishes,” said Siena President Fr. Kevin Mullen, who was delighted with the decision to return to the Capital District.

Since the tournament departed Albany in 2011, the attendance figures have suffered significantly. In 2010, a record crowd of 53,569 crowd watched Siena capture its third consecutive tournament title. In the three years following, the total crowd has been just 55,261. Last year, at the MassMutual Center, in Springfield, Mass., the tournament drew just 14,394 fans, the lowest number in three decades.

“The bigger question is – do MAAC fans travel?,” said MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. “They travel to here, as well as anywhere.”

The tournament will still be held in Springfield, as planned, in 2014, but then will be held at Times Union Center from 2015-17.

“It’s huge,” said Times Union Center General Manager Bob Belber. It’s enormous.”

Albany was one of two finalists, along with Bridgeport, Conn., which hosted in 2011. The other two proposals came from Springfield and the Izod Center, in the Meadowlands.

The arena has guaranteed $250,000 per year to the MAAC, a number much smaller than the millions the tournament has produced for the city in previous years.

The city of Albany has hosted 15 of the past 24 tournaments, dating back to 1990. Siena has won the tournament four times when it has been played on its home floor. Even when Siena wasn’t strong, the tournament has still produced sufficient attendance totals.

“The Capital Region fans have proven they will come out and watch college basketball,” said Siena Athletics Director John D’Argenio.  

The biggest reason the league decided to leave in Albany was the idea of playing on a neutral court, but as the league found out, that came at the cost of having more fans in the building.

“It hasn’t worked particularly well,” said Ensor.  

Only three times has the overall attendance of the league tournament topped 50,000, and all three of those came in Albany (2010, 2009, 2000).

“There is something special about this city and it didn’t take me long to realize that,” said Siena women’s basketball coach Ali Jaques.

J.S. Carras/The Record

The Siena men's lacrosse team takes to the field Friday evening in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference semifinals.

The Saints play the Dolphins of Jacksonville in a game that can be seen on ESPN3.com, and on tape delay on Time Warner Cable Sports.

In the other semifinal, top-seed Marist takes on Detroit.

The championship game is on Sunday, at 1 p.m., and can be seen live in the Capital District on Time Warner Cable Sports.

The Siena women's team is also in the MAAC semifinals, held at Marist College. The Saints play top-seeded Canisius on Friday afternoon.

Below, is video of junior midfielder Mike Battaglia, a Shaker High grad, talking after practice on Wednesday, about the upcoming tournament.

Below Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro and senior O.D. Anosike talk about the 74-62 loss to Niagara in the MAAC quarterfinals. 



Anosike talks about the game and his career.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - It was a valiant effort, but Siena didn't have enough firepower to stay with top-seeded Niagara on Saturday.

The Purple Eagles just had too much offense and advanced to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference semifinals, with a 74-62 victory on Saturday afternoon.

The loss marks the final game for Siena senior O.D. Anosike, who finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Antoine Mason led all scorer with 21 points, while Juan'ya Green added 15.

The Saints finish the season at 8-24, tying the program mark for most losses in a season.

Following three consecutive losing seasons, the question now is will coach Mitch Buonaguro be back for a fourth season as the head coach.

"I'm the coach," he said. "I have a contract through next year and I'll see what happens."

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - A wild and entertaining half of basketball is in the books.

Either Niagara or Siena is just 20 minutes from the semifinals.

The first half saw a little bit of everything, as the Saints trail 32-31. They are in good position, which could be even better if they hadn't missed eight free throws.

Evan Hymes and Rob Poole each have nine points for Siena.

Antonie Mason leads the Purple Eagles with eight. Antoine's father, Anthony Mason, a former New York Knicks forward, is in attendance.

It was a physical half, with 20 fouls being called, including a technical to Rakeem Brookins.

Niagara lost starter Tahjere McCall early, when he tried to make a move and grabbed at his knee.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Siena men's coach Mitch Buonaguro talks about the 70-64 victory over Marist in the first round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Siena men's basketball team will play another day.

The Saints topped Marist 70-64, in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference first round game on Friday evening, at MassMutual Center.

Senior O.D. Anosike led the way, scoring 24 points and grabbing 12 rebounds for Siena, which takes on top-seeded Niagara, on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Chavaughn Lewis scored 24 points, while Jay Bowie added 16 points for the Red Foxes.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Like the first two meetings this season, the first half was pretty even and pretty intense.

Davis Martens' free throw gives the Saints a 32-31 lead at halftime.

O.D. Anosike scored 12 points to lead the Saints, but it was Chavaughn Lewis leading all scorers with 14 points for the Red Foxes.

The Saints shot 52 percent (13-25) from the field, but that may not be a great thing since they only lead by one.

Below is video of Siena coach Ali Jaques talking about her team's 52-48 quarterfinal victory over Fairfield in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference quarterfinals.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Siena women's basketball team has advanced to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference semifinals.

The Saints led the entire second half, downing Fairfield, 52-48, in the quarterfinals on Friday afternoon. Siena advances to take on No. 2 seed Iona, at 9:30 a.m., on Saturday morning.

The victory marks the first MAAC postseason win for Saints coach Ali Jaques.

“That was a really hard-fought win. We’re happy to be here for another day," she said. 

Senior Lily Grenci led the way with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Kanika Cummings came off the bench to scored 12 points. Cummings scored seven of her team's final 10 points, hitting some huge shots, including a 3-pointer with three minutes to play.

It was close down the stretch, as the Saints (13-17) missed four free throws in the final 1:17, but they hung on for the win.

The Stags (17-13) were led by Brittany Obi-Tabot, who scored 14 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, while Alexys Vazquez finished with a team-high 15 points.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Siena women's basketball team is just one half from the semifinals.

Lily Grenci scored 15 points in the first 20 minutes, as the Saints lead Fairfield 31-27.

Katie Cizynski led the Stags with 10 points.

Siena shot 50 percent (13-26) from the field and led by as many as 11 points.

Below is the men's tournament bracket.

Siena plays Marist on Friday, at 7:30 p.m.

 

Below is the women's bracket. 

Siena plays Fairfield, at 11:30 a.m., on Friday morning. 

 

Before the Siena men's basketball team takes the floor on Sunday, to end the regular season against Iona, the Saints know their opponents in the postseason tournament.

With Saint Peter's losing 78-61 to Niagara, the Peacocks are the No. 10 seed, meaning Siena will play in the No. 8/9 matchup.

Siena will play Marist (one team will be No. 8, the other will be No. 9) on Friday March 8, at 7:30 p.m.

The Red Foxes and Saints split the season series, with Marist winning on Friday, 76-74, in Albany.

If Siena can beat Marist on Friday, they would get regular-season champion Niagara on Saturday, at 2:30 p.m. The Purple Eagles finished the regular season 13-5, and swept the Saints in two meetings.

The Siena men's basketball team had a lost weekend, losing to Loyola (Md.) and Saint Peter's. Other bad news was Marist won two games and now the Saints sit in a tie for eighth place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings, with only four games to play.

It looks like the Saints will be in the play-in round for the second time in three years, when the MAAC tournament takes place in March.

Here is a link to Friday's game story from stringer Harvey Valentine and a writeup from Sunday's game.

Sunday's game was a milestone day for senior O.D. Anosike, as he became just the third player to join the program's 1,000-point/1,000-rebound club, joining former teammate Ryan Rossiter and Lee Matthews.

Also, I had a chance to write a story on UAlbany women's senior Ebone Henry, who became the program's all-time leading scorer a few weeks back. Here is a link. 

The UAlbany men's team lost on Saturday at Maine, dropping to 7-5 in America East play. 

One last thing. For UAlbany fans, I did an interview with the Colonial Athletic Association, the football team's new league last week and it's posted here.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Siena's resilient team met its match on Sunday evening.

Loyola knocked off the Saints for the third time this season and punched its ticket to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship, with a 70-60 victory, at MassMutual Center.

The Greyhounds (23-8) will face Fairfield (19-13), which upset Iona, earlier in the day, on Monday evening, for a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Loyola knocked down seven 3-pointers, five of which came in the second half, as they pulled away.

Loyola was led by Erik Etherly, who scored a game-high 21 points and Shane Walker and Robert Olson each chipped in 12.

The Saints (14-17) shorthanded all season, played only six players, but were still a tough out. 

Kyle Downey led the way for Siena, scoring 17 points, while Owen Wignot added 16.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - It was a pretty even first half, by all accounts.

Neither Siena or Loyola played its best, but the game was back and forth throughout the first half.

The Saints started slowly, falling behind 4-0, but rattled off 11 points jump back into it.

The Greyhounds turned things around, got the lead and held it for the last few minutes of the half.

Owen Wignot leads Siena with seven points, while Shane Walker has seven points for the Greyhounds and Erik Etherly added six. 

One team is just 20 minutes from advancing to Monday's championship game, against Fairfield. The Stags upset Iona, 85-75, getting 26 points and 12 rebounds from All-MAAC selection Rakim Sanders.

Here is the final play of regulation, when Kidani Brutus' short jumper rolls around and comes off the rim.



Here is freshman Rob Poole talking about the victory.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Well, we've almost seen it all in the first half of this Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference quarterfinal.

There was nearly a brawl, Evan Hymes came off the bench, in hero-like fashion and there have been 12 3-pointer, most from Manhattan.

Thanks to big halves from Brandon Walters and Rob Poole, who started in place of Hymes, the Saints hold a narrow lead. Walters has 11 points, five rebounds and four blocks, while Poole Poole has a team-high 12 points.

Siena shot 55.6 percent (15-27) from the floor in the first half. 

George Beamon leads the Jaspers with 15 points and he's 5-for-5 from downtown.

OD Anosike and Torgrim Sommerfeldt were both assessed technical fouls, with six minutes to play and Anosike spent the final six minutes on the bench, with three fouls. 

Manhattan coach Steve Masiello came all the way out onto the court to rein in his guys, as words were exchanged and it almost spilled over.

Siena coach Gina Castelli talks about her team's 63-48 loss to Fairfield in the MAAC semifinals.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Siena women's basketball team ran out of gas on Saturday morning.

Fairfield went on a big run to end the game and advance to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship game, with a 63-48 victory, at the MassMutual Center.

The Stags (24-7) scored 16 of the last 20 points in the game, turning a 3-point lead, into a 15-point victory.

The Saints (12-17) had a tough offensive second half, making just seven baskets and scoring only 18 points.

Fairfield went on the big run, without their start player. Taryn Johnson picked up her third and fourth fouls, in the first three minutes of the second half and was anchored to the bench.

In her absence, Desiree Pina (20 points) and Katelyn Linney (14 points) stepped up big.

Lily Grenci finished with a game-high 21 points for the Saints, who will see Maja Gerlyng and Cristina Centeno graduate.

Fairfield will face either Marist or Niagara, in the championship game, at noon, on Monday.