NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College men's basketball team got back on the winning track on Wednesday, Nov. 21 against Hartford. The Gaels defeated the Hawks 80-75 in the conclusion of the MGM Sports Main Event.

GAME SUMMARY

Iona led for nearly the entirety of the game as a result of its strongest offensive outing of the season thus far. Iona shot a season-best 57.1% from the floor and 45.0% from beyond the arc.

The Gaels lit it up from long distance in the first half, hitting 7-of-11. Junior Asante Gist went 2-for-2 from deep and redshirt freshman Andrija Ristanovic came off the bench from three trifectas in eight minutes.

The first 10 minutes of the game was a slog for both teams' offensively until Ristanovic hit his first triple. From there the Gaels went on to build its largest lead of the game at 11 with 3:25 remaining in the first half. Gist hit is second triple to give the Maroon & Gold a 36-25 edge. Hartford gathered momentum back with an 8-2 run to end the period.

The Gaels led the Hawks, 38-33, at halftime. Hartford's offense ran through John Carroll. He had 15 first half points and ended the game with a game-best 26. Gist and Ristanovic combined for 17 points in the first on 6-of-9 shooting. Iona as a team shot 63.6% from deep in the opening half.

Juniors E.J. Crawford and Tajuan Agee both carried the Maroon & Gold in the second half. Crawford scored 13 of his season-best 19 points in the second. Agee, who came off the bench for the first time this season, had 10 points and six rebounds in ten minutes.

The Hawks took the lead once in the second half when Jason Dunne hit a three-pointer from the left wing. The bucket put the Gaels down 65-64 with 4:52 left, but soon after order was restored to the scoreboard.

Dunne was charged with a technical foul following the three-pointer which resulted in him fouling out of the game. Iona retook the lead on its next possession on an Agee layup and it wouldn't relent the lead for the remainder of the game.

Crawford hit the Gaels final field goal with 3:49 left. Free throws from junior Isaiah Still, senior Rickey McGill, Crawford, Gist and McGill iced the game.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Agee scored a season-best 12 points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes of action. It was the first time he came off the bench this season.
• McGill scored in double-figures for the fourth straight game. He finished the game with 12 points, three rebounds and five assists. McGill has a steal in every game this season; he has recorded three steals in back-to-back games.
• Crawford led the Gaels with 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting. He, along with McGill, had a team-best five assists.
• Wednesday was the first time Iona shot over 55.0% from the floor since Jan. 14, 2018 against Rider.
• There was a 12 minutes stretch in Wednesday's game where Hartford was not called for a foul. Iona had eight straight foul calls against them.
• Both of Iona's wins this season have come against America East opponents. The Gaels defeated Albany in the season-opener on Nov. 9 in addition to Wednesday afternoon's victory. Hartford was voted second in the America East Preseason Coaches' Poll and the Great Danes were polled tied for fourth.

UP NEXT

Iona returns to the East coast for a contest against Providence on Saturday, Nov. 24. It will be the Friars first game since Sunday, Nov. 18 against No. 18 Michigan. Tip-off from the Dunkin' Donuts Center set for 4 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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