NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Iona College men's basketball head coach Tim Cluess announced his 2013-14 schedule this afternoon. The Gaels' schedule features eight non-conference and 20 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference matchups. The Maroon & Gold has one non-conference game remaining to schedule looking to be announced at a later date.
Iona opens the season with two road games beginning Nov. 9 at Cleveland State. The Gaels return to the Wolstein Center for the first time since the 2010 World Vision Classic, a three-game tournament serving as the debut for Cluess as head coach at Iona. The Maroon & Gold looks to avenge the 0-3 performance in Cleveland including a 10-point loss to the host Vikings. The Gaels are 1-2 all-time vs. Cleveland State. The matchup opens up a home-and-home series between the two teams.
Ten days later, Iona takes on Kansas at the legendary Phog Allen Fieldhouse on Nov. 19. The two teams square off for the fourth time in history and for the first time in 25 seasons. The program is also 1-2 all-time against Iona College President Dr. Joseph E. Nyre's alma mater. The last meeting came on Dec. 29, 1988 in a 100-67 to the defending national champion Jayhawks. The Gaels' lone win came at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 7, 1980, a precursor to the program's signature win over Louisville two weeks later.
The Gaels host their first home contest of the season on Saturday, Nov. 23 as George Mason comes to the Hynes Center for the first time in nine seasons. Iona is 0-2 all-time vs. the Patriots, last competing in a 70-65 loss at the Hynes Center on Dec. 8, 2004. The two teams begin a home-and-home series with the contest. The home opener includes a halftime ceremony to honor Iona's outgoing Senior Policy Advisor and Board of Trustees Secretary Sr. Patricia McGinley in recognition of her service to the College.
The Maroon & Gold then hits the road for a battle with 2013 NCAA Tournament Cinderella sensation Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers, FL on Dec. 1. The Gaels visit "Dunk City" in the first ever meeting between the two programs. The Eagles return to New Rochelle in the 2014-15 season.
Two MAAC games follow the FGCU trip as the Gaels host Marist on Wednesday, Dec. 4 before traveling up I-95 to Bridgeport to face Fairfield on Sunday, Dec. 8.
The non-conference schedule continues at home vs. St. Bonaventure on Saturday, Dec. 14 to complete the two-game series started last year. The Bonnies are the Gaels' most frequent non-conference opponent on the 2013-14 slate meeting 15 previous times (10-5, St. Bona advantage). Iona took the last matchup, a 93-74 win, in Olean, NY on New Year's Eve last season.
Following the completion of fall semester finals, the Gaels embark on a three-game road trip to end the 2013 calendar year. Iona heads to UD Arena to take on Dayton for the first time in 26 seasons. The Maroon & Gold is 1-5 all-time vs. the Flyers. UD Arena is however a familiar place for the Gaels as it is the site of the program's both NCAA Tournament appearances in the last two years.
A flight to Reno, NV follows the Dayton trip where Iona completes an ESPN Bracketbusters series at Nevada. The Gaels defeated the Wolfpack in the team's first-ever matchup two years ago at the Hynes Center.
Iona's final scheduled non-conference matchup takes the squad to Cedar Falls, IA to face Northern Iowa. The Panthers and Gaels meet for the first time.
The heart of the MAAC schedule begins for Iona on Jan. 2 as the team travels to league newcomer Quinnipiac. The Gaels and Bobcats opened their seasons against each other in 2012-13 at the Paradise Jam.
Iona's schedule features four Friday night home games in January culminating with a rematch of the 2013 MAAC Championship game against the Manhattan Jaspers. The Gaels head to Riverdale on the final Friday night of the regular season (Feb. 28).
