By Connor Wilson, Ethan Hurwitz, Judaea Ingram & Khalise Harris
With the regular season wrapping up on Saturday, the 2025 MAAC Men’s Basketball Championship is officially upon us. In Atlantic City, 10 teams playing over the course of five days at Boardwalk Hall will determine which school earns the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
If there’s one thing to take from these types of tournaments, it’s that anything can happen, and the favorites aren’t always the ones hoisting the trophy on Saturday. All 10 postseason-eligible teams can make a case to win it all, so here’s one x-factor from each squad that will be crucial towards their team’s success in the tournament:
Quinnipiac: Khaden Bennett, Soph., G (10.4 PPG, 40.7% FG)
The Bobcats are led by a veteran group of upperclassmen with much experience. Bennett has become a key contributor for this team. After playing just 16 games last season, he has stepped into a larger role as the fourth-leading scorer while starting 20. His energy and hustle stand out – diving for loose balls, taking charges, and attacking the rim for momentum-shifting dunks. He also spaces the floor and ranks third on the team with a .346 3-point percentage (22nd in the MAAC). In the backcourt, his 43 steals are the second-most on the team. Over the last five games, he has recorded three double-digit scoring performances, proving his consistency. With his ability to impact both ends of the floor and do the little things, Bennett has been a key piece of the Bobcats’ success. – Harris
Merrimack: Matt Becht, Sr., G (9.8 PPG, 34.8% 3PT)
The Warriors’ identity isn’t beating you from the perimeter, but sometimes in March, the team that comes out on top is the team that gets hot from three. If Merrimack is going to do that, Becht’s fingerprints are going to have to be all over it. The 25-year-old is one of the oldest players in the country and attempts the third most triples per game in the MAAC at 7.3. He knocked down multiple threes in 17 of the Warriors’ 20 MAAC games, and is going to need to perform similarly down in Atlantic City to give Merrimack its best chance at its first NCAA Tournament appearance. No other player besides teammate Budd Clark (20.2) is averaging in double figures this season, so now is the perfect time for somebody on the Warriors to step up. – Wilson
Marist: Jackson Price, Sr., F (9.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG)
Price was sidelined the entire month of February with a foot injury before returning to the Red Foxes on March 6 in their loss to Merrimack. Marist was rolling with its starting center in the lineup, beginning the year 16-3 overall before the injury. The Red Foxes went 4-4 with him out of the lineup and have lost both games since his return as he adjusts back to speed. Price scored in double figures six times in MAAC play before the injury, and got back to that level in Saturday’s loss to Mount St. Mary’s when he had 13 points. Head coach John Dunne and company need a healthy Price in Atlantic City to make some noise in the tournament. – Wilson
Iona: Adam Njie Jr, Fr., G (12.1 PPG, 41% FG)
The MAAC All-Rookie Team selection has come on as one of the Gaels’ premier players heading into Atlantic City. Njie Jr. scored in double figures in eight of Iona’s final nine games, with his magnum opus a 26-point outburst at Canisius on March 2. While the majority of the Gaels’ offense runs through senior guard DeJour Reaves and junior forward Yaphet Moundi, Njie Jr. provides an additional level of scoring to head coach Tobin Anderson’s offense. With a first-round bye and a looming quarterfinals matchup against Manhattan — a team that can shoot the three ball with the best of them — it’s safe to assume that Njie Jr. will be an underrated component to lock down one perimeter and help contribute on the other. – Hurwitz
Manhattan: Devin Dinkins, Soph., G (13.5 PPG, 44% 3PT)
The Jaspers were in a six-man rotation for most of MAAC play, now back up to seven, the scoring punch off the bench from Devin Dinkins will be important. Dinkins averaged 13.5 points-per-game (11th in the MAAC). He led the Jaspers with 59 3-pointers this season and had 20 games with multiple 3-pointers to his name. Not only is he shooting well from the field and -point line, but he shoots tremendously from the free-throw line at 87.7%. Whether he is creating his shot or setting up teammates, Dinkins’ versatility will open up different scoring avenues for the Jaspers. His scoring ability gives Manhattan a reliable option in clutch moments and helps keep defenses on their toes. – Ingram
Mount St. Mary’s: Carmelo Pacheco, Soph., G (9.5 PPG, 46% 3PT)
There’s an argument to be made for Pacheco being the conference’s best 3-point shooter. After arriving at Mount St. Mary’s by way of UVA-Wise, Pacheco was the catalyst for a number of the Mountaineers’ wins late in the year. At one point he was ranked inside the top 15 nationally in 3-point percentage, and drilled a game winner against Niagara to steal a win on Feb. 14. He was dealing with a finger injury in Saturday’s win over Marist and played just six minutes, but expect a healthy Pacheco to get the green light early and often from deep. – Hurwitz
Sacred Heart: Nyle Ralph-Beyer, Fr., G (9.3 PPG, 43.4% 3PT)
In their first year in the MAAC, the Pioneers have impressed many despite finishing as the No. 7 seed. Part of the reason why they are where they are is the youth stepping up, such as Ralph-Beyer. The freshman has been a lights-out shooter for Anthony Latina’s Pioneers all year long, but as of late, he’s been a bit more streaky. Ralph-Beyer hit 20 3-pointers in a seven-game stretch from Jan. 23 to Feb. 16, but in six games since then has only buried eight. Coincidentally, his shooting struggles began when he entered the starting lineup for the first time, so perhaps another change may be in store as Sacred Heart needs the best version of Ralph-Beyer it can get. – Wilson
Rider: Zion Cruz, Jr, G/F (10.3 PPG, 43.2% FG)
Cruz has consistently demonstrated his scoring prowess and versatility on the court. In a crucial game against Canisius, he led the team with 12 points, contributing to a decisive 78-50 victory that secured Rider’s berth in the MAAC Tournament. He also had clutch shots against Merrimack and finished the game with 23 points, shooting 9-for-10 from the field and 3-for-4 from the 3-point line. He is not afraid to shoot and pull from behind the arc. He went 4-5 from the 3-point line against St.Peter’s, finishing the game with 16 points. He is a dynamic offensive option for Rider, and he can stretch out the defense. His hot hand can lead them to the promised Iand. – Ingram
Siena: Gavin Doty, Fr., G (11.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG)
Doty has come out of his shell offensively for the Bulldogs since entering the starting lineup. He has scored double digits in eight straight games. Described by Josh Abercombie as an unmatched motor, as he never takes a single possession off. He leads all MAAC freshmen in scoring (14.1), rebounding (7.9), field goal percentage (.480), and free throw percentage (.815). He makes winning plays, whether that is crashing the glass or getting key buckets down the stretch. He does not turn the ball over often and rebounds well for a guard. In three of the last four games, Doty scored 20 or more points, including ending the season with a 21-point, 12-rebound double-double against Manhattan. He is a sensational freshman, and Siena will benefit from his offensive explosion. – Ingram
Fairfield: Deon Perry, JR, G (8.5 PPG, 34.8% FG)
In his first season at Fairfield, Perry has already made a name for himself. The 5-foot-8 shift and quick guard is a problem – let’s get that straight. Despite starting only three games and averaging 20.0 minutes, he plays with purpose every time he steps on the court. His impact goes beyond the numbers, but he’s had big moments, including a game-winning 7–foot buzzer-beater against Marist. Perry has scored in double figures in 12 games, with three of those being 20-point performances. He also leads the team in free-throw percentage at 88.2%, making it crucial for opponents to keep him off the line, especially since many of his drives result in and-one opportunities. – Harris
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