NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Three players scored 20 or more points for the Iona College men's basketball team and the Gaels trailed for just 15 seconds in an 84-75 win over Fairfield in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play at the Hynes Center. The Maroon & Gold (7-7, 4-1) evened its overall record and moved into a four-way tie for first place in the league standings at the quarter mark of the season.

Senior A.J. English put an exclamation point on his game-high 25 points in the final minute of the contest with a thunderous dunk over a Fairfield player that helped the seal the win down the stretch. English connected on four three-point field goals and was 9-of-10 from the charity stripe in the win. He added four rebounds and two assists in 39 minutes. Senior Tre Bowman was also clutch for the Gaels with 24 points with a career-best six three-pointers. Bowman was 7-of-12 from the field. Junior David Laury reached the 20-point mark for the first time this season, netting 17 of his season best 21 points in the first half. Laury was 8-of-9 from the field with four rebounds, an assist and a block. Junior Tavon Sledge had eight points and four assists. Senior Mike Poole recorded a career-high five assists to go along with four rebounds and three steals. The Gaels welcomed sophomore Isaiah Williams back to the line up for the first time in seven games. He had a team-high six rebounds and three steals in the win.

Fairfield took its only lead of the game just after the five minute mark on a mid-range jumper by sophomore Coleman Johnson. Fifteen seconds later English drained a three from the win and Iona never trailed again. The Stags would tie the score at 14-14 on sophomore Sean Grennan's three-ball at 13:25 but that was as close as they would get. The Gaels maintained a single-digit lead before five straight points late in the half gave them a 39-29 advantage on a Laury bucket. The margin was eight points at the half.

Midway through the second frame, the Gaels regained a short-lived double-digit cushion. Poole converted a steal into a layup to put Iona ahead 63-52 with 11:13 on the clock. A Laury bucket off a nice feed from Poole gave the Maroon & Gold its largest lead with 4:16 remaining at 74-60. Fairfield charged back and got to within six points with 33 ticks left before English's highlight reel dunk gave Iona an 81-73 advantage. Williams' stole the inbound play forcing Fairfield to foul and the Gaels earned the nine-point victory.

Four Stags scored 10 or more points. Senior Maurice Barrow came off the bench to score 19 points. Grennan added 16 while Johnson and sophomore Justin Jenkins each had 12.

Fairfield out shot (50.0%-45.5%) and out rebounded (40-27) Iona but 11 Gael three pointers and a 23-for-30 effort from the free throw line was the difference in the contest. The home team also committed a season-low five turnovers in the win.

Iona is back in action Sunday for a quick turnaround at Siena at 2:00 pm.