NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College men's basketball team outscored Marist 46-36 in the second half to secure a 93-80 MAAC victory earlier this afternoon in the Hynes Center during a New Year's Eve matinee. The Gaels shot a season-best 55.7 percent from the field in the victory.

Trailing 64-61 with less than 14 minutes left in regulation, the Maroon & Gold (9-5/2-1 MAAC) strung together a 30-4 run that included a 16-0 spurt to control a 91-68 advantage with four minutes remaining. Jordan Washington led the charge in the period with 16 points and five rebounds while E.J. Crawford and Jon Severe each chipped in 10 points.

The Red Foxes (4-10/1-2 MAAC) grew a lead to as large as 12 points in the first period due to efficient shooting from Ryan Funk and Isaiah Lamb. However, Iona managed to chip away at the deficit and took the first lead of the game at 44-42 with 1:14 left in the half on a Rickey McGill jumper.

The Gaels offset seven 3-pointers from Marist during the opening 20 minutes, including three each from Funk and Lamb, by shooting 63.3 percent from the field and totaling 30 points in the paint. McGill led all scorers with 14 points while adding seven assists.

Funk started the second half shooting from long range again, tying the game at 47 to star the half. The shot sparked Marist to a seven point led less than four minutes in before Iona made its run. Crawford ignited the second half run by tying the game at 64 with a 3-pointer, the first three points of a 16-0 run capped off by a Severe layup.

The Maroon & Gold put together another run, this time an 11-0 streak that increased the lead to 91-68 after a Washington layup and free throw. Marist scored 12 of the final 14 points of the game to cut the deficit to 13 points, however, time was cut short on the comeback effort.

McGill posted his first career double-double behind 18 points and 10 assists while Washington led all scorers with 26 points in addition to eight rebounds. The senior forward was one of five Gaels in double-figures as Sam Cassell Jr. chipped in 19 points, Crawford posted 15 points and Severe tallied 10 points.

Iona returns to action in two days with a trip to Bridgeport, CT on Monday to face MAAC foe Fairfield. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm from the Webster Bank Arena.