NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College men's basketball team earned its ninth straight win in an 89-70 win over Monmouth in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference at the Hynes Center. Senior Tre Bowman posted 23 points and sophomore A.J. English recorded his second double-double of the season with 23 points and 13 points in the victory.

The Gaels (17-8, 14-2 MAAC) began to pull away just over four minutes into the contest. Following the last tie score of the game at 7-7, Iona went on an 18-6 run and led 25-12 on senior Sean Armand's three-pointer with 9:22 remaining in the first half. Red shirt freshman Grant Ellis' layup with 36 ticks left put the Gaels ahead by 16 points at the half.

Monmouth (10-16, 4-11 MAAC) got within nine points with 17:36 left as an 8-1 run was capped by a Chris Brady layup. Iona proceeded to score the next 12 points over the next 3:55 to earn a 55-34 advantage following a Bowman layup at 14:41. Brady's conventional three point play got the Hawks within 14 points at the 3:55 mark but that was as close as they would get. Iona answered with eight straight points to seal the victory.

All five starters recorded double-digit scoring totals in the victory for the Gaels. Bowman was 8-of-15 from the field and drained five three pointers. He added five rebounds, two assists and two steals. English matched his career-high of 13 dimes and shot just 6-of-14 from the field with three trifectas. Armand and sophomore Isaiah Williams each had 13 points while senior Mike Poole added 11 points and a team-best six rebounds in the win.

Jones scored 16 points for the Hawks while adding seven rebounds and four assists. Khalil Brown had 13 points while Brady netted eight points and 12 rebounds in the loss.

The Gaels were outshot 50.8% - 46.7% and out rebounded 44-25 but the key factors in the win was a 22-to-8 assist to turnover ratio compared to a 19-to-21 for the visitors. Iona scored 27 points off Monmouth's 21 giveaways compared to just four for the Hawks.

Iona's nine-game winning streak matches the longest under head coach Tim Cluess, the longest in the last 16 years and the sixth longest in school history. The Gaels look for a tenth straight win next Friday at Rider.