BRIDGEPORT, CT – A second half comeback from the Iona College men's basketball team came up short this evening, falling to Fairfield 93-87 during MAAC play at the Webster Bank Arena.

After trailing by as many as 13 during the first half, the Gaels (9-6, 2-2 MAAC) claimed an 82-81 lead with 2:37 left in regulation on a layup from Jordan Washington. However, the Red Stags outscored the Maroon & Gold 12-5 in the remaining minutes of the half to claim the six-point victory.

Washington shot 11-for-15 from the field to lead Iona with 28 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes in reserve duty. Three others also reached double-figures in scoring as Rickey McGill tallied 15 points while Sam Cassell Jr. and Jon Severe each contributed 13 points. McGill also added seven rebounds.

Fairfield converted 14 3-pointers on the evening, the most by an Iona opponent this season, led by four each from Tyler Nelson and Curtis Cobb. Cobb finished with a team-high 22 points while Nelson put forth a line of 17 points, eight assist and six rebounds. Matija Milin added 21 points and nine rebounds while shooting 10-for-15 from the line.

The long distance shooting started early in the first half for the Red Stags as the team totaled nine makes in the first 20 minutes. With the deep shooting, the lead built to 13 points at 31-18 with 8:09 remaining until halftime. The Gaels managed to cut the halftime deficit to nine points, 45-36, at the break with an E.J. Crawford free throw with three seconds left.

A 3-pointer from Severe and a layup from Taylor Bessick quickly cut the Fairfield lead to four points to open the second half. Both teams continued to go on separate runs, eventually leading to Iona claiming the 82-81 advantage late in the contest. However, Fairfield regained the lead on the next possession as Jerome Segura nailed a jumper after a Milin rebound.

The Red Stags converted five free throws in the final two minutes to hold off the Gaels despite McGill tallying five points in the same spurt.

Looking ahead, the Maroon & Gold are back on the road on Friday to face Monmouth. The contest is scheduled for a 7:00 pm start on ESPNU.