January 31, 2001 -- Marist and Iona, the two top teams in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, will battle for sole possession of first place in men's basketball action at the McCann Center this evening.

Marist, entering the final game of the three-game homestand, islooking to avenge January 22nds loss, 69-81, to the Gaels. The Red Foxes are winners of their last nine straight home games and have not suffered a set back to a MAAC team on the McCann Center court.

Marist is looking tie the season-series as the Gaels handed Marist a 69-81 loss at the Mulcahy Center just nine days ago. The defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champs hold the all-time series record 3-10, including a 6-2 mark in MAAC conference play.

Junior point guard Sean Kennedy, emerged on the scene as not only the top assist man, but also a top scoring threat. Kennedy has led the Red Foxes in scoring in the last three outings. He was named the Chase/MAAC Player of the Week for the week ending Sunday, January 28th, averaging 16.7 points, six rebounds, and 5.7 assists in the Red Foxes 2-1 week.

Iona brings a pair of NCAA statistical leaders to the Marist campus. Nakiea Miller not only is the Gaels leading scorer (15.2 ppg) and rebounder (8.6), but also ranks 10th in the nation in blocks (3.3 bpg) and first in field goal percentage (.705). Dyree Wilson checks into tonights game with a 14.5 ppg average, while senior transfer Earl Johnson suits up as the Gaels third leading scoring threat at a 12.2 ppg mark. Johnson is also 15th in the country in three-point field goal percentage having knocked down 27-of-52 shots from long range for .519 percent.

For more information about tonight's match-up, check out Marist's Game Day Notes.