Quinnipiac, Fairfield advance in quarterfinals

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Paul Otieno had 19 points in Quinnipiac’s 7652 victory against Canisius on Wednesday night in a quarterfinal of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament.

Quinnipiac, the top seed, advances to the semifinals on Friday against the winner of Thursday’s Rider-St. Peter’s quarterfinal. The Broncs and Peacocks meet on Thursday.

Otieno also added 12 rebounds for the Bobcats (24-8). Matt Balanc shot 5 for 14 (2 for 6 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line to add 17 points. Amarri Tice had 13 points and went 6 of 11 from the field.

The Golden Griffins (1418) were led in scoring by Tre Dinkins, who finished with 17 points and two blocks. Devean Williams added 13 points and two steals for Canisius. Youri Fritz had seven points, two steals and three blocks.

Quinnipiac took the lead with 5:37 remaining in the first half and did not give it up. The score was 34-27 at halftime, with Otieno racking up 10 points. Quinnipiac pulled away with an 18-1 run in the second half to extend a seven-point lead to 24 points. They outscored Canisius by 17 points in the final half, as Balanc led the way with a team-high 12 second-half points.

Fairfield 68, Iona 63: Jalen Leach had 22 points in Fairfield’s win over Iona on Wednesday night in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinal.

No. 2 seed Fairfield will play on Friday against the winner of the Thursday quarterfinal between Marist and Niagara.

Leach added eight rebounds and four steals for the Stags (21-11). Caleb Fields added 20 points and seven rebounds. Brycen Goodine finished with nine points.

Jeremiah Quigley had 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the seventh-seeded Gaels (15-16, 1-1). Joel Brown added 13 points and three steals for Iona. Idan Tretout also had 11 points.

Fairfield went into the half leading Iona 34-31. Fields scored nine points in the half.