Marist announced Thursday night that fifth-year senior shooting guard Dejuan Goodwin was declared academically ineligible per the NCAA standards.

Also, starting point guard R.J. Hall was given an institutional academic suspension of athletics activities by Marist.

Marist coach Chuck Martin said he was hopeful that Hall's issue could be resolved this semester, noting, "Nothing has been definite with R.J. We didn't lose R.J."

Fairfield has streaked out to a 13-4 record, including a 6-1 mark in the MAAC.

Maurice Barrow earned MAAC Rookie of the Week on Jan. 10 as a result of his stellar play. The freshman recorded his first career double double with 11 points and 14 rebounds in a home victory against Niagara.

Success is nothing new to Barrow after a successful career at Christ the King High School in New York City, where he was named the Most Valuable Player of the CHSAA Class AA championship a year ago.

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is proud of their "mid-major" label.

"That's what we are. Why deny it?'' said Niagara University athletic director Ed McLaughlin, the chairman of the MAAC committee.

MAAC officials were on hand Wednesday at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, where announcement was made of an exhibit that will highlight the 10-team conference's history.

The league tournaments in 2012, 2013 and 2014 will be staged in March, with an automatic NCAA tournament berth going to each champion.