Friday, January 22, 2010

More ESPN Exposure Coming for MAAC

It never hurts to get some national television exposure, particularly for mid-major level programs.

Four MAAC teams will get some national TV time next month, so-called "wild-card" games as part of the conference's arrangement with ESPN.

The network has selected two conference men's basketball matchups that will be televised on Friday, February 12.

An ESPN2 telecast will feature Siena College (16-4, 9-0 MAAC) at Niagara University (11-9, 4-4 MAAC). Game time is slated for 8:00 p.m. at the Gallagher Center.

Fairfield University (14-5, 7-2 MAAC) will take on host Rider University (10-10, 3-5 MAAC) at Alumni Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m. on ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network.

Earlier this season, three MAAC schools represented the conference in ESPN's second annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon - consecutive live college basketball games that celebrated the start of the season - which was highlighted by 12 live games in 24 consecutive hours on ESPN on Tuesday, November 17.

On that day, in the 6:00 a.m. game, Saint Peter’s College earned a 58-34 victory over Monmouth University at the Yanitelli Center. Niagara followed up with a 76-69 win over Drexel University in the 8:00 a.m. contest at the Gallagher Center. Siena rounded out the day with a 59-53 victory over Northeastern University in the noon tilt from the Times Union Center. The 6 and 8 a.m. telecasts marked the first time ESPN has televised live college basketball games in those time slots after showing more than 8,200 live matchups in 30 years.

Another upcoming ESPN telecast will feature the title game of the 2010 Citizens Bank MAAC Men’s Basketball Championship at the Times Union Center, which will be featured on ESPN2 on Monday, March 8 at 7:00 p.m.

The league continues its 2009-10 MAAC Basketball Television Schedule tonight with Manhattan College hosting Iona College. Game time is slated for 9:00 p.m. at Draddy Gymnasium, and it will air live on ESPNU.

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