NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College men's basketball team earned its fifth straight win and improved to 6-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic conference play with a 90-80 win over Marist at the Hynes Center. Senior A.J. English scored a game-high 24 points and sophomore Deyshonee Much returned to action after missing three games with a foot injury and netted 21 points in the win.

The Gaels earned their 26th straight win in New Rochelle, extending the nation's seventh longest home win streak. Iona is 6-0 in MAAC play for just the second time in history, matching the feat accomplished to start the 1995-96 campaign.

English's added eight assists and five rebounds and was a perfect 10-for-10 in his high scoring effort. After posting five 20+/5+/5+ contests as a junior, he reached the mark for the first time in 2015-16 after several near misses.

Coming off the bench for the first time in 10 appearances, Much was expected to see limited action in his return to the lineup. His 21 points came on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and 5-of-9 from beyond the arch. He added six rebounds in his 26 minutes of play.

Three other Gaels recorded double-digits with senior Ibn Muhammad and juniors Taylor Bessick and Jordan Washington posting 11 points apiece. It matched a season-best for Bessick and Muhammad. Bessick added five rebounds while Muhammad had three three-point field goals with two assists and two boards. Washington played just 14 minutes due to foul trouble and had three rebounds and a block in the win.

Iona outshot Marist 50.8%-42.4% with the help of a 59.3% effort in the second half. The Maroon & Gold held a 37-35 advantage on the boards.

After a successful four games in eight day stretch, the Gaels will have nearly a full week off before a highly anticipated matchup with Monmouth at the Hynes Center next Friday (Jan. 15). The Gaels and Hawks, the preseason No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the MAAC, tip off at 9:00 pm in a nationally televised event on ESPNU.