LAWRENCE, KS - The Iona College men's basketball team's valiant effort against No. 2/3 Kansas fell short in an 88-66 defeat at Allen Fieldhouse. Sophomore A.J. English had a career-high 21 points but the Jayhawks size proved too much for the Gaels.

English shot 6-for-13 from the field and 6-of-7 from the line with three three-point field goals. He added five rebounds and two assists. Junior Sean Armand posted 14 points with three assists and two boards. Junior David Laury fell one rebound shy of a double-double with 13 points and nine boards. Senior Tre Bowman had six points and sophomore Isaiah Williams recorded seven rebounds for the Gaels.

Iona erased an early 9-3 deficit with a 13-3 run and led 16-11 on an Armand trifecta with 13:27 left in the first half. Kansas quickly erased the lead but the Gaels raced back with five striaght points, and led 21 16 at 10:11. Bowman hit a three-pointer With 2:19 on the clock to knot the score at 36-36. The Jayhawks scored the frame's final five points and took the lead for good.

Kansas sophomore Perry Ellis led his team with 21 points adding seven boards. Freshman seven-footer Joel Embid was 7-of-7 from the field and recorded a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double. Rookie Andrew Wiggins had 13 points and seven rebounds while guard Naadir Tharpe posted 10 assists.

The Gaels are back in action Saturday at the Hynes Center hosting George Mason at 2:00 pm.