HAMDEN, CT – The Iona College men's basketball program won its fourth straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game on Tuesday night against the Quinnipiac Bobcats, 81-77. The Gaels had three players score 20+, including a career-high 27 from junior Tajuan Agee.

GAME SUMMARY

Iona began the game under a three-pointer blitzkrieg from Quinnipiac. The Bobcats did not make a two-point field goal until the 11:20 of the first half; 12 of their first 13 shots were from long range. Cameron Young had 15 points in the first half and Rich Kelly hit three three-pointers in the opening frame and together they combined for seven of Quinnipiac's nine first half three-pointers.
 
Despite the Bobcats shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc in the opening period, and 23 of their 30 shots being from beyond the arc, the Gaels trailed just 39-36 at halftime. Senior Rickey McGill had 12 first half points on 5-of-7 shooting. Agee and junior E.J. Crawford each had nine points and ball movement was strong for the Maroon & Gold with seven Gaels having an assist in the opening 20.
 
Iona found itself down by eight a minute into the second half. The Gaels clawed back and after a 2:30 scoreless drought from both clubs, Agee hit a fast break layup with 11:02 remaining to make it 54-49. It stayed within two possessions until the Maroon & Gold knotted it up at 57-57 with just under seven minutes left.
 
On their next possession, the Gaels retook the lead for good with Crawford burying a three-pointer from deep at the top of the key. Iona's swelling moment came from its lone senior with 3:01 on the clock. McGill hit a three-pointer from the right wing, right in front of the Maroon & Gold bench, while drawing a foul. He completed the four-point play following a media timeout, giving the Gaels a 69-61 edge.
 
The Gaels largest lead of 12 came with 1:46 remaining, but the Bobcats did not go away quietly. Young pulled his best McGill and completed a four-point play to make the difference six with 1:27 left. Iona fouled Young again on a three-pointer, and in a span of 27 seconds, the reigning MAAC Player of the Week made his second four-point sequence.
 
Iona's lead dwindled to three with nine seconds left, but a lay-up from Age with five seconds left gave the Maroon & Gold their four-point winning difference.
 
Despite not making a field goal from the floor, junior Asante Gist made 5-of-6 from the free throw line over the final two minutes to help Iona close it out.
 
Agee scored 18 of his 27 points and 10 of his 12 rebounds in the second half. He scored seven points in a two-minute stretch at the start of the second to get the Gaels back on track. Crawford shot a perfect 5-for-5 in the second half, including his momentum swinging three-pointer.
 
Iona shot 45.0% from the floor and 26.6% from beyond the arc. Quinnipiac shot 43.3% overall and 30.8% from long range. The Gael defensive claws came out from the 10:16 mark till there was 86 seconds left. During that time the Bobcats made just two field goals and they shot 2-for-15 from the floor.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• McGill ended a six-game three-pointer drought with his first triple in the opening half. He had missed his last 16 long range attempts prior to Tuesday's game. It was also the first time he'd made multiple three-pointers since Jan. 20 at Monmouth.
• McGill finished the game with 21 points, three assists and three rebounds. It's his first 20+ scoring game since Jan. 13 against Canisius. He has four games with over twenty points this season.
• Crawford pulled down a career-best 10 rebounds in addition to his 20 points. It is his first career double-double. Crawford's previous career-high in rebounds was nine against Ohio (Nov. 27).
• Agee's 27 points and 12 rebounds is his ninth double-double of the season.  It is his fifth 20+ points and 10+ rebound effort of the season.
• The last time the Gaels had two players record a double-double in the same game was on Jan. 21, 2018 against Canisius. McGill had 14 points and 12 assists and TK Edogi '18 had 16 points and 10 rebounds.
• Quinnipiac shot 47.1% from the free throw line.  Young shot 3-for-8 from the charity stripe.
• The Gaels doubled the Bobcats scoring in the paint, 32-16. Iona also had 21 fast break points compared to 10 for Quinnipiac.
• With the results around the MAAC on Tuesday night, the Maroon & Gold are part of a five way tie for second place in the standings. Quinnipiac, Iona, Monmouth, Rider and Siena all have a 9-6 league record and they each trail Canisius by 0.5 games with the Golden Griffins having played one less game than those chasing them.

UP NEXT

On Friday, Feb. 22, the best rivalry in the MAAC adds its newest installment. Iona travels to Draddy Gymnasium to tip-off against Manhattan at 7 p.m. The game is being broadcasted on Jasper Vision. Tickets are available at the Manhattan Ticket Portal.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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