SPRINGFIELD, MA - The Iona College men's basketball team advanced to its 12th ever Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship final after defeating No. 1 seed Niagara 79-73 in the semifinal round at the MassMutual Center. Sophomore David Laury posted 20 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to help lead the Gaels (19-13) in the win.

Laury recorded his ninth double-double of the season while matching his career-best with the 17-rebound effort. Senior Lamont Jones added 17 points and five assists; senior Taaj Ridley had six points and six rebounds while junior Sean Armand had 13 points, six boards and three assists in the win. Sophomore Tavon Sledge played harassing defense on Niagara's guards while pitching in seven points including a key three-point field goal late in the contest to help propel the Gaels to the win.

A back and forth battle for the first 30 minutes of the contest, the score was separated by a point with 9:40 to go. A 10-2 run opened up a 70-61 advantage on Sledge's fourth three-pointer of the entire season. Niagara answered with six straight points to cut the Iona lead to three points with less than three minutes remaining. On the next possession, Laury got himself to the free throw line and the Gaels regained a five point advantage. Unlike the last time the two teams hooked up in the regular season where the Maroon & Gold struggled from the free throw line down the stretch, Iona was 9-of-10 from the line to hold on to the six-point win.

Niagara sophomore Antoine Mason scored 16 of his game-high 21 points in the first half to lead five Purple Eagles in double-digit scoring totals. Sophomore Ameen Tanksley had 14 and junior Marvin Jordan, sophomore Juan'ya Green and freshman T.J. Cline each had 11 points in the loss. Green was held to just 5-of-17 shooting from the floor. The Gaels' nemesis -on Monteagle Ridge in late January - who hit a game-tying three in regulation and the game-winning long ball in the second overtime - was 0-for-7 from beyond the arc.

Iona out shot Niagara 45.0% - 40.6% and held a 45-32 advantage on the boards.

The Gaels advance to the MAAC Championship game for the second time three years and for the 12th time in history. Iona has won a MAAC record seven titles including its last win in 2006.

The Maroon & Gold faces archrival Manhattan on Monday night in a 9:00 pm tipoff on ESPN2.