Jaden Daly

Siena will play in its first MAAC championship game since 2017 after defeating Fairfield in the semifinals, 76-61.

The Saints will take on Merrimack in search of their seventh conference tournament title, and first since 2020.

They’re going down the stretch in Atlantic City, and Siena is 3:45 away from playing for a MAAC championship.

All the Saints have to do is protect a 65-53 lead over Fairfield.

Merrimack missed a chance to go up three, but Jadin Collins-Roberts couldn’t get a shot off in the final five seconds to win it for Marist.

The Warriors survive a John Dunne special to reach the MAAC championship game, 58-57 the final. #MAACHoops #MakeChaos

One of these teams will earn the CAA's auto bid ...

Monmouth: No NCAA trips since 2006

Hofstra: No NCAA trips since 2001 (won CAA tourney in 2020)

Campbell: No NCAA trips since 1992

Towson: No NCAA trips since 1991

William & Mary: No NCAA trips *ever*

Marist couldn’t hold the basketball, and now Gallo bails Merrimack out with a timeout at the other end.

The Warriors still hold a 58-57 lead, but there’s only 11.3 seconds left now and a five-second difference between the clocks.

And 29 seconds later, Tye Dorset hits ANOTHER big three to swing the pendulum back.

Gallo will talk as his Merrimack team regains a 58-57 initiative, hoping to get through the last 81 seconds.

Rhyjon Blackwell for the lead with 1:50 to go!

They’re going down the stretch on the boardwalk, and Merrimack is clinging to a 55-53 lead in the final 3:27.

Dorset wrested the lead away with a three a minute or so ago. He’s got 20 points and answered a Marist run that culminated with a Collins-Roberts drive for the lead.

DOUBLE T PATTY D LIVING UP TO HIS NAME IN ATLANTIC CITY!!!

Somewhere in Milwaukee, the Marquette fans who follow me on here just went into convulsions. #mubb

Merrimack just threw another counterpunch after Marist tied it at 40, scoring seven unanswered and triggering another John Dunne timeout with 12:34 on the clock.

Warriors 47, Red Foxes 40.

Marist scored the first points after halftime to take a brief lead, but Merrimack responded with an 8-0 run and John Dunne now wants a half-minute.

He gets one at the 17:54 mark with the Red Foxes now down seven, 38-31.

A fun first 20 here.

Merrimack 30, Marist 28 going to the locker room. Mount Laurel native Tye Dorset with 11 points.

Marist has pulled within one as a tight whistle has taken shape in this first half, and Rhyjon Blackwell has started to heat up.

The Red Foxes are down one with 6:32 left before halftime, trailing Merrimack by an 18-17 margin.

Merrimack is doubling Marist up now, 16-8 the score, with 11:04 remaining in the opening stanza. The Warrior backcourt of Kennedy, Dorset and Shelton has 14 of the 16, and Menard still hasn’t scored for the Red Foxes.

Merrimack will take a 9-6 lead into the first timeout, establishing that advantage with 4:41 gone. The Warriors have held Justin Menard scoreless thus far, something you love to see if you’re Gallo.

Off and running on semifinal Sunday in Atlantic City. Marist and Merrimack have matched one another through the first 2:33, knotted up at 4 apiece.

Starters for both sides:

Marist — Jadin Collins-Roberts, Justin Menard, Rhyjon Blackwell, Jaden Daughtry and Parby Kabamba.

Merrimack — The usual five of Kevair Kennedy, Tye Dorset, Ernest Shelton, Andres Marrero and Todd Brogna.

ZEBRA ALERT — Tonight’s officials for Merrimack/Marist: Pat Driscoll, Tim Smith and Steve Perry.

Driscoll goes from talking Dan Hurley off the ledge yesterday to the MAAC tournament 24 hours later. He’ll probably have a CAA semifinal tomorrow if I had to guess.

One of these teams will play for a MAAC championship Tuesday night.

Game #77, the first of two semifinals tonight, this one between Merrimack and Marist.

Marist is in the semifinals of the MAAC tournament after a 77-75 win over Quinnipiac.

Rhyjon Blackwell atoned for splitting two free throws by blocking Tai Turnage’s attempt for the tie. It’ll be the Red Foxes and Merrimack tomorrow. #MAACHoops

I’ll reset as TP calls a timeout:

Marist 76, Quinnipiac 73, 25.1 seconds left. The Bobcats will hold for the tie here, most likely going to Randall (26 points) or Amarri Monroe (18, but also four fouls).

Randall just pulled a Larry Johnson with a four-point play. #MAACHoops

I’ve been preoccupied with editing Big South and SoCon stuff most of the day, but they’re going down the stretch in Atlantic City, and Marist is taking a 65-63 lead to the final 3:20 after Justin Menard broke a tie. The Iona transfer has 20 points for the Red Foxes. #MAACHoops

A little bit of a shocker so far: Marist is up 10 on Quinnipiac at halftime.

That’s not the shock, it’s the fact that the Red Foxes put up 42 points at Quinnipiac’s pace. Collins-Roberts, Menard and Blackwell have matched the Bobcats’ 32 by themselves. #MAACHoops

Fun start in AC for this one, where Quinnipiac has a 19-16 lead on Marist with nine minutes gone by.

Asim Jones’ two fouls have forced Pecora to get creative with his bench, and Tai Turnage has done what he does best, spark the Bobcats with energy and hustle.

Off and running on the boardwalk, and Asim Jones is first on the board with a long two for Quinnipiac. Menard came back down the other end with a driving layup to equalize.

Starters for both sides:

Marist — Jadin Collins-Roberts, Justin Menard, Rhyjon Blackwell, Jaden Daughtry and Parby Kabamba.

Quinnipiac — Asim Jones, Jaden Zimmerman, Amarri Monroe, Grant Randall and Spence Wewe.

#MAACHoops

ZEBRA ALERT — Tonight’s officials for Quinnipiac/Marist: Ed Corbett, Jr., Mike Nardone and Mike Evans.

There used to be a time when Eddie’s dad would come up to Albany or Springfield to get a piece of this tourney before the Big East. I feel so old now.

Day 3 in Atlantic City, with two of the MAAC’s elder statesmen doing battle in the quarterfinals.

Game #76, with Sean Stellato doing a standup in the background, features Quinnipiac and Marist battling for the right to face Merrimack in the semifinals tomorrow night.

Merrimack just wrapped it up over Sacred Heart, 70-48 the final.

The Warriors will await Quinnipiac or Marist on Sunday. Saint Peter’s and Fairfield will tip in about a half-hour.

They’re going down the stretch in Atlantic City, and Merrimack is 3:44 away from a trip to the semifinals of the MAAC tournament, where it advanced last year before falling to eventual champion Mount St. Mary’s.

The Warriors are in control, 66-43 over Sacred Heart.