NIAGARA UN., N.Y. -- The Niagara University men’s basketball team begins its quest for a postseason bid today when it plays Iona College in its first game in the 2005 HSBC Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament in HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y.

Niagara, the No. 1 seed, received the double bye into the tournament after finishing the regular season in first place with records of 18-9 overall and 13-5 in the MAAC.

No. 5 Iona reached the semifinals with a 68-51 win over Siena on Friday night and a 97-73 victory over Saint Peter’s Saturday evening.

The Purple Eagles enter the tournament having won three of its last five games. They dropped their regular-season finale, 113-106, at Rider on Feb. 26.

Iona has been one of the hottest teams down the stretch. The Gaels are on a three-game winning streak and have won seven of their last 10 games.

Today’s game will be televised live on Madison Square Garden, and can also be heard live on WJJL (1440 AM) and on Niagara University’s official athletic website at www.PurpleEagles.com.