SPRINGFIELD, MA - Iona College men's basketball senior Lamont Jones and junior Sean Armand combined to score 57 points to help lead the No. 4 seeded Gaels (18-13) to a 89-85 win over No. 5 Canisius in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship quarterfinal round at the MassMutual Center. The Maroon & Gold hung on in the final moments after a late Golden Griffin (18-13) charge left the decision in doubt until the final moments. The win advances Iona to the semifinal round for the third straight season.

Jones scored 21 of his game-high 33 points in the second half and Armand scored 17 of his 24 points in the first half to lead the Gaels. Jones shot 9-of-19 from the field converting all 14 of his free throw attempts in the win. He added six rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes of play. Armand was 5-of-10 from the field with three three-point field goals. He converted a career-best 11 free throws on 12 attempts, all coming in the first half. 

Senior Taaj Ridley and sophomore David Laury supported Iona's 1-2 punch combining for 23 points and 19 rebounds. Ridley tallied 11 of his 13 points in the second half and grabbed five rebounds with three assists. Laury stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, 14 rebounds four assists and two blocks. It was his eighth double-double of the season and first since Feb. 2 against the same Canisius squad.

The Maroon & Gold trailed 18-10 with 12:35 remaining in the first half. An 8-0 run over the next 2:28 capped by three Armand free throws knotted the score at 18-18. Canisius regained a five point lead less than two minutes later, only to be answered again by five straight points by the Gaels. With the score tied at 34-34 and 2:51 to play, Iona ran out to an 8-3 advantage after junior DaShawn Gomez' three-ball with 35 ticks on the clock gave his squad a halftime lead of 42-37.

Things were looking up for the Gaels early in the second half. With 13:27 to go Armand's layup gave Iona its largest advantage at 60:48. Canisius responded with an 8-1 run to pull within five points a little more than three minutes later. The Griffs' Josaiah Heath's put back dunk with 3:23 left pulled Canisius within a point at 76-75. The Gaels maintained composure and never relinquished the lead. Jones and Ridley scored the Gaels final 21 points in the half with the former tallying all but five.

Canisius' Billy Baron was equally as impressive as Jones was for the Gaels in the second half leading his team with 17 points. He scored 24 for the game adding four assists and three rebounds. Harold Washington posted 17 points and five assists, Chris Manhertz had 13 points and 11 boards, Heath also netted 13 points while Alswan Hymes had 11 off the bench in the loss.

The Golden Griffins outshot the Gaels 50.8% - 46.3%. Iona held a 37-28 advantage on the boards. The Maroon & Gold did most of its damage from the free throw line converting 34-of-40 (85.0%) of its attempts including a combined 25-of-26 effort from Jones and Armand.

Iona takes on top seeded Niagara tomorrow at 2:00 pm at the MassMutual Center.