BALTIMORE, MD – The Iona College men's basketball team cut a 25-point second half deficit to four with under 30 seconds to play but could not complete the comeback effort in a 87-81 loss at Loyola. A sold-out crowd of 2,100 packed Reitz Arena as the Greyhounds (19-5, 12-2 MAAC) split the season series with the Gaels (18-5, 11-3 MAAC) and gain sole possession of first place in the conference standings on Friday evening. 

Sophomore Sean Armand led all scorers with 25 points, shooting 6-for-12 from the field and 5-for-9 from beyond the three-point arc. Senior Mike Glover posted his 12th double-double of the season with 22 points and 16 rebounds while junior Lamont Jones had 12 points in the loss. Senior Scott Machado added seven points and nine assists.

Jones got the Gaels on the board with a quick lay-up to start the game, before an 11-3 run by the Hounds and then a quick 7-0 run by Iona to cut the deficit to 11-10 with 14:19 on a three by Jones. Loyola increased the lead to nine, 19-10, a pair of layups and dunks and then doubled the lead with under a minute left in the half on a jumper by Justin Drummond. A trio of Gaels finished with seven points at the break, as Glover, Armand and senior Randy Dezouvre led the visitors.

 

Loyola continued to add offensive pressure in the second half and took a 25-point lead with 12:17 left on a jumper by Drummond. The deficit was the largest of the season for the Maroon & Gold. The Gaels answered and began their comeback run with the help of a a 13-0 run to cut the margin to 71-61 with 6:10 remaining. Armand connected on three consecutive long distance daggers, as Iona made it a single-digit contest 75-67 with 5:28 remaining.  The Greyhounds regained a 10-point lead on an RJ Williams layup with 4:27, but a backend free throw by Glover made it nine with 4:10 left. A pair of layups by Glover cut it to six 78-72 as both teams traded baskets until the final minute. Machado drove the lane and made it four but four consecutive free throws by Loyola sealed the contest. 

The Gaels shot 40.8% from the field in the contest and rebounding from its lowest first-half percentage of the season (31.3%) with a 48.6% effort in the second half.  Loyola shot 50.8% from the field for the contest, Iona's first opponent to shoot better than 50% since Marshall on Dec. 11. The Maroon and Gold out rebounded Loyola 39-37 with 17 on the offensive boards and a 25-14 advantage in the final 20 minutes.

Juniors Erik Etherly and Dylon Cormier had 22 points a piece while Drummond had all 17 of Loyola's bench points.  Senior Robert Olson had 13 points for the home team.

 

The Gaels return to the Hynes Center on Sunday (Feb. 12), hosting Marist at 7:00 pm in the second game of a doubleheader with the women's squad.