Quinnipiac University
24-8,15-5MAAC
Canisius
14-18,8-12MAAC
Second-Half Surge Leads QU Past Canisius in MAAC Tournament
3/13/2024 8:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
No. 1 Quinnipiac Clinches Spot in League Semifinals
Paul Otieno led the Bobcats with 19 points and 12 rebounds (9-12 FG). Matt Balanc chipped in with 17 points, while Amarri Tice added 13 points and nine rebounds.
QU outscored Canisius 42-25 during the second half. The Bobcats opened up the second half on a 12-0 run.
No. 1 Quinnipiac will now advance to the semifinal round of the 2024 Hercules Tires MAAC Men's Basketball Championship. The Bobcats will square off with the winner of Saint Peter's vs. Rider on Friday night at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall with a trip to the title match on the line.
QU advances to the semifinal round of the MAAC Tournament for the fourth time since joining the league. The Bobcats also advanced to the league semifinals in 2013-14, 2017-18 & 2021-22.
Quinnipiac 76, Canisius 52
LOCATION
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall | Atlantic City, NJ
QU STAT LEADERS:
Points: Paul Otieno (19)
Assists: Savion Lewis (11)
Rebounds: Paul Otieno (12)
Steals: Paul Otieno, Savion Lewis (2)
Blocks: Amarri Tice, Rihards Vavers (1)
NOTES:
- The Bobcats shot 49.2% (31-63) in total. QU went 6-of-14 from 3-point range in the victory.
- QU went 16-of-30 in the second half of play. The Bobcats tallied an assist on 11 of 16 baskets.
- Quinnipiac outscored Canisius 46-26 in the paint. QU outrebounded Canisius 39-34.
- Paul Otieno's double-double is his fourth of the year. He leads the conference in shooting percentage (63.3%) following another 9-for-12 performance. Otieno had 10 points and six rebounds over the first 20 minutes, then nine points and six rebounds during the second half. He finished +35 in 32 minutes on the floor.
- Point guard Savion Lewis finished with 11 assists and just two turnovers. The graduate student added eight points, a pair of rebounds and a pair of steals. The All-MAAC Second Team selection is averaging 7.4 assists per contest.
- Fellow All-MAAC Second Team honoree Amarri Tice added 13 points and nine rebounds. Tice shot 6-for-11 over 33 minutes.
- MAAC Player of the Year Matt Balanc added 17 points. He's tallied double-digit scoring outputs in all but one game in 2023-24. Balanc knocked down a pair of triples and shot 5-for-6 from the free throw line.
- Alexis Reyes added nine points, while Rihards Vavers scored six points.
- Quinnipiac moves to 16-0 this year when holding opponents to less than 70 points.
- The Bobcats are now 9-15 against Canisius since joining the MAAC. QU has taken three of the last five meetings.
- QU will now turn its attention to Friday night's semifinal contest, which is set to tip off at 6:30 PM. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNews.
