BUFFALO, NY –The Iona College men's basketball team improved to 3-1 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play with a dominant 88-70 win against Canisius at the Koessler Center. Junior E.J. Crawford became the 41^st player in program history to eclipse the 1,000 career point mark in the victory. He and senior Rickey McGill each finished the game with team-leading 20 point efforts.

GAME SUMMARY

Iona's first half defensive intensity led to one of its strong stretches of the season. The Gaels held Canisius to 25.0% shooting from the floor and 11.1% from beyond the arc in the opening frame. Noteably, Canisius's MAAC Preseason Player of the Year Isaiah Reese had just one made field which came in transition with two minutes before intermission.
 
After a slow start with four turnovers in the first four minutes, the Maroon & Gold's offense began to blossom behind the sharp-shooting of junior Ben Perez. The San Marcos, CA native set a new career-high with five three-pointers in the first half. He led all scorers with 17 points at the break.
 
At halftime, the Gaels lead the Golden Griffins 42-23. Canisius's 23 points is the fewest tallied in a single-half by an Iona opponent this season. The Maroon & Gold shot 46.7% as a team in the first and 50.0% from beyond the arc. The strong play was done with McGill on the bench for final 10:05 of the frame due to foul trouble. Junior Tajuan Agee had to sit the final 6:24 as well with two personals, but he still ended the half with six points and four rebounds. Junior Asante Gist was a strong spark of the bench, netting 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
 
Canisius started the second half hitting five of its first seven shots but McGill proved to be a calming effect with three straight baskets. With 12:40 on the clock, Crawford hit his second of back-to-back three-pointers to surpass 1,000 career points and also give the Maroon & Gold a 60-39 lead in the game.
 
The Golden Griffins made their run with a 14-0 stretch that pulled themselves within 13, 66-53, with 7:30 left. McGill ended the stretch with a three-pointer, his only one of the game, from the right with 6:08 left. Canisius would never get closer than 15 for the remainder of the game.
 
McGill & Crawford combined for 34 of Iona's 46 second half points. The tandem of returners combined to shoot 13-for-21 from the floor. Perez didn't score in the second half but did have four assists. The Gaels made their final seven shots of the game and shot 61.5% overall and 60.0% from deep in the second half.
 
The Maroon & Gold's defense carried over its corralling of Reese from the first half into the second. He finished the game with 10 points, but shot 2-of-11 from the floor and 0-for-9 from deep. Malik Johnson had a team-best 14 points for Canisius. Sophomore Takal Molson had 13 points.
 
McGill & Crawford each had 20 points. Gist netted 18 off the bench shooting 6-of-8 from the floor and hitting four three-pointers. Perez stuffed the stat sheet recording his first-ever double-double with 17 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• This afternoon's game was Niksa Nikolic's first start since Dec. 9 against Columbia in Madison Square Garden. Entering Sunday's game, he had played single-digit minutes in his last five contests. He finished the game playing six rebounds and a career-best four assists in 23 minutes.
• Crawford is the second Gaels to cross the 1,000 career-point threshold this season. McGill surpassed 1K at VCU on Dec. 1.
• Sunday's win at Canisius is the first true road victory of the season for Iona.
• After being outrebounded 51-29 in Friday's loss to Niagara, the Maroon & Gold battled to a 40-25 advantage on the boards against the Golden Griffins. The Gaels are 3-1 when they outrebound their opponent; the only loss came against Princeton (Dec. 15). It is the third time this season Iona has had 40 or more rebounds.
• Iona committed 17 turnovers but Canisius scored just 13 points off the extra possession.
• The Golden Griffins shot 19.4% from beyond the arc. It is a season-best effort best for the Gaels defending the three-point line. They are the fourth team this season to make less than 10 three against the Maroon & Gold, and the first since Ohio (Nov. 27).

UP NEXT

The Maroon & Gold return home to the Hynes Center on Friday, Jan. 18. The Gaels host the Marist Red Foxes for a 7 p.m. tip. You can watch the Gaels live on ESPN+. Following Friday's contest, Iona travels to Monmouth on Sunday, Jan. 20 to wrap up the regular season series.

MARK CALENDAR: IONA GOLF MAAC CHAMPIONSHIP RECOGNITION & ANNUAL GOLD RUSH GAME

The Iona College men's golf program will be honored for winning their fifth ever Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference at halftime of the men's basketball game on Friday, Jan. 24 against Rider University. The game is also the annual Maroon Maniac Gold Rush game. The first 400 students who arrive to the Hynes Center will get the exclusive 2019 Gold Rush t-shirt. The opening tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
This game against the Broncs has also been flexed to ESPNU.
 
Iona Golf supporters are invited to attend the game and Goal Club Reception following the game. For additional information, reach out to Sean Burke, Golf Coach at sburke@iona.edu or (914) 633-2071.
 
For more information on the events, please contact Assistant Athletic Director of Ticketing Peter Talman at (914) 633-2491 or ptalman@iona.edu.

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