EDITOR'S NOTE I: To clarify the headline of today's story, on February 2, SienaSaints.com used "Siena Basketball Back in the New York Groove," following its 56-54 win at the Hynes Center. It referenced "Back in the New York Groove," by Ace Frehley, the song that Iona Athletics has played when the Gaels win at home for more than a decade. For those unaware (maybe because it doesn't happen often), "Green Onions," by Booker T is the song that is played following an Iona loss. Hence "No Green Onions," a play on the headline from two weeks ago.

EDITORS NOTE II: Oh, and yes, it is completely an intentional double entendre. Siena wears green and "onions" is the famous Bill Raferty call in 2009 after Siena great Ronald Moore hit a game winning shot in the NCAA Tournament vs. Ohio State.

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LOUDONVILLE, NY – The Iona College men's basketball program put together its best defensive effort of the season in a rousing 57-52 come-from-behind win against Siena at the Times Union Center. Junior Tajuan Agee had a career-day with 25 points and 13 rebounds. He made five three-point field goals, the last of which gave the Maroon & Gold the lead for good.

GAME SUMMARY

Coming just after an Iona timeout, Siena's rookie guard Jalen Pickett hit a three-pointer to give the Saints their largest lead of the game, 51-38, with exactly eight minutes to go. The triple capped off an 11-0 run and firmly placed the momentum against the Gaels.
 
On the return possession, Agee calmed the Gaels with a fade-away jumper from the right elbow. From that point on, it was all Iona, all the time. The Maroon & Gold went on a 19-1 run to close the game. Siena did not make a single field goal over the final eight minutes, missing their final eight shots.
 
Iona's surge began with Agee's basket and reached true crescendo when the Chicago, IL native began lighting it up from deep. Agee hit three straight three-point field goals and his final one gave Iona a 52-51 lead with 3:38 remaining.
 
Siena's only point in the final eight minutes came from Evan Fisher at the free throw line with 12 seconds left. The Saints then called timeout to try and set up a defense trailing 54-52. With the Gaels inbounding underneath the basket, senior Rickey McGill dished his prettiest assist of the day when it was needed most.
 
McGill let loose a long outlet past to the streaking Ben Perez down and the Maroon & Gold bench all put up their hands signaling 'Touchdown' as the junior dunked home the fast break dagger while also drawing the foul. Perez hit the free throw and put the finishing touches on Iona's seventh Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win of the season.
 
Siena's 52 points scored is the lowest by an Iona opponent this season. The Saints shot 37.5% from the floor, the lowest since Rider shot 37.3% from the field at the Hynes Center on Jan. 15. It is the third time this season a MAAC opponent shot below 40.0% against the Maroon & Gold.
 
Iona's defense held Pickett, the seven-time MAAC Rookie of the Week, to 10 points on 4-for-10 shooting. Fisher led the Saints in scoring with 17 points. Kevin Degnan had a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Agee was the only Iona player in double-figures. Junior E.J. Crawford played the full 40 minutes and had nine points and six rebounds. Perez had nine points on 3-for-4 shooting from the floor.
 
The Gaels shot 40.4% from the floor and 36.8% from beyond the arc. It's just the second time over the last seven games Iona shot over 33% from deep. The Maroon & Gold made 8-of-11 from the free throw line. The Gaels have made below 10 free throws just three times this season.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Wednesday's result is the first time ever the Maroon & Gold have ever won when scoring under 60 points under head coach Tim Cluess. Iona is now 1-9 when scoring less than 60 points in Cluess' nine years in New Rochelle. It is also the first time Iona won a game this season when scoring less than 70 points
• There was not a foul called until the 5:51 was left in the first half. Perez completed an old-fashioned three-point play to five the Gaels a 19-18 lead at the time. Iona wasn't whistled for a foul until there was 2:06 remaining.
• Agee has a team-high eight double-doubles this season. He has four 20+ points and 10+ rebounds this season. Agee's 13 rebounds are the most in a single-game by an Iona player this season. His five made three-point field goals is tied for the most in a single game with Perez, who has hit five on four separate times this season.
• Iona won the battle on the boards, 38-31. The Gaels had nine rebounds in the final eight minutes compared to just three for the Saints. Agee had half of Iona's 10 offensive rebounds.
• The Gaels are 4-0 this season when holding opponents to under 40.0% shooting.
• Wednesday's game was the first time this season the Maroon & Gold won a game when the three-pointers made my both teams was equal. Iona shot 7-for-19 from deep while Siena hit 7-of-26.

UP NEXT

The Maroon & Gold return home on Friday, Feb. 15 at play against Saint Peter's in the their one and only regular season contest this season. Friday is also Military Appreciation Night at the Hynes Center. The game set to tip-off at 7 p.m. and it is being broadcasted on ESPN+. Tickets are available online at the Iona Ticket Portal or at the box office.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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