EDISON, N.J. – The Niagara men's basketball program was selected eighth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Preseason Poll announced on Wednesday.

The defending MAAC regular-season champions received 39 votes to finish one spot ahead of Saint Peter's for eighth place. Manhattan was picked to finish first with 119 votes.

First-year head coach Chris Casey will have the league's returning leading scorer in All-MAAC First Team member Antoine Mason, along with veterans Marvin Jordan and Joe Thomas.

The Purple Eagles open the season at the Gallagher Center against Roberts Wesleyan on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.

For ticket information, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office at 716-286-8499, tickets@purpleeagles.com or visit www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets.

1.       Manhattan	119
2.       Iona	108
3.       Canisius	100
4.       Rider	85
5.       Marist	69
6.       Fairfield	61
7.       Quinnipiac	58
8.       Niagara	39
9.       Saint Peter's	38
10.    Siena	35
11.    Monmouth	14