GAME NOTES: A set of teams at the bottom of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings collide at Draddy Gym today, as the Canisius Golden Griffins tangle with the Manhattan Jaspers. The Griffins have struggled for just about the entire season, winning only four times in 23 opportunities. The team is currently tied for last place in the league at 2-11 and it has dropped its past two outings, including a 66-59 setback at Iona on Friday. The loss to Iona was the team's 12th on the road in as many tries. As for Manhattan, it had been off to a good start, but that was before dropping its last eight outings. With the slide, the Jaspers join Saint Peter's and Canisius at the bottom of the MAAC standings at 2-11. On Friday, the team was defeated by Fairfield, 66-61, to dip to 8-15 overall. Manhattan though, does lead the all-time series with Canisius, 41-29, and that includes a 69-65 victory on January 11th. That victory over the Griffins is the Jaspers' last since enduring their current losing skid.

The Griffins shot a lackluster 37.3 percent from the field and they went just 13-of-22 at the foul line in a 66-59 setback at Iona on Friday. The team turned the ball over 15 times and it even lost the battle on the boards, 41-34. Frank Turner paced Canisius in defeat with 12 points and five boards, while Elton Frazier had 11 points and four caroms. For the season, Turner has been one of the few bright spots for the Griffins, leading them in scoring (12.5 ppg), assists (4.2 apg), rebounds (4.2 rpg) and even steals (28). As a team however, Canisius has struggled greatly at the offensive end of the court, scoring a mere 59.9 ppg and shooting a sub par 38.9 percent from the floor. Hanging onto the ball has also been an issues for the Griffins, who are committing 17.2 turnovers per game.

The Jaspers were dominated on the boards, 37-20, including 14-5 on the offensive glass of their 66-61 loss to Fairfield on Friday. Manhattan hit on 10-of-24 long-range attempts to keep things close, but it wasn't enough to overcome the sizeable difference on the boards. Devon Austin guided the squad in the loss with 12 points, while Antoine Pearson logged seven points and seven assists. For the season, Pearson tops the roster in scoring at 11.7 ppg and he is converting 77.2 percent of the time at the foul line. Austin is next in order with 10.6 ppg and he has 17 steals to his name. Overall, Manhattan is producing 67.9 ppg on the strength of 41.8 percent shooting from the floor this season.

Neither team has had much success, but this is a good change for one program to pull itself out the basement of the MAAC. Go with the Jaspers, as they are at home and that should make a big difference today.