NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Courtesy of clutch late game heroics from
Isaiah Ross, the Maroon & Gold emerged victorious over the Rider Broncs in the Hynes Center on Friday night, 70-69. Ross buried a three-pointer, his fourth of the game, from the top of the key with 12 seconds left to make a two-point deficit a one-point lead. The Gaels survived the Broncs last second shot and have now won five of their last six Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games.
GAME SUMMARY
Skipping the funny business, the only place to start is at the very end.
Iona trailed 69-65 with 28 seconds left after a Broncs trip to the free throw line.
Isaiah Washington took the ball down the floor for the Maroon & Gold and made a floater in the paint to get within two. Rider inbounded the ball and Iona immediately fouled Tyrie Randall. Randall stepped up to the free throw line and missed both free throws of the double bonus, giving the Maroon & Gold a chance.
Crawford pulled down the defensive rebound and fed an outlet pass ahead with the Gaels down two. The ball found the hands of Washington who fed Ross at the top of the key. The lefty sharpshooter rose up, released, landed and struck a pose as his trifecta went through the nylon, putting Iona in front, 70-69.
Rider took the ball down the floor and it was Washington on the defensive end who forced a jump ball and was credited with the steal to put the rock by in Iona's possession. The Broncs fouled Crawford with five seconds left, and he missed the front end of the one-and-one. Rider took its final timeout to set up a play. Iona held it its breath and then exhaled elatedly as Stevie Jordan's floater from the right baseline fell off the front of the rim at the buzzer.
The Broncs missed six free throws in the final 2:36 of the game. Iona trailed from the 3:21 mark till Ross's game-defining three-pointer.
The Maroon & Gold played the final 2:35 without
Tajuan Agee, who fouled out of the game. The Broncs didn't have Frederick Scott on the court for the final 87 seconds after he committed his fifth personal foul.
Iona finished the game shooting 42.4% overall and 35.5% from beyond the arc. The Gaels made only 9-for-15 (60.0%) from the free throw line, its lowest percentage since November 22 against Stetson. Rider shot 42.4% from the floor and 26.7% from long range. The Broncs made just 9-for-21 (42.9%) from the charity stripe.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS
STATISTICAL LEADERS
- Crawford scored 20 points for the fifth straight game with 22 points on 7-for-17 shooting. He made three form beyond the arc for the first time since January 31 versus Siena.
- Agee scored 17 points with four assists and six rebounds in 30 minutes. Washington closed out with 10 points, seven rebounds and a team-best six assists.
- Ross ended with 16 points and five rebounds. He shot 6-for-11 from the floor and 4-for-8 from beyond the arc.
- Ben Perez played 27 minutes off the bench, his most since February 2 against Manhattan when he started. He scored five points, pulled down three rebounds and dished out three assists.
- Rider's Tyere Marshall scored 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. He shot 9-for-12 from the floor. Stevie Jordan had 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Dimencio Vaughn scored 13 points and secured four steals.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- At halftime on Friday night, the men's basketball program and Iona College athletics honored the legendary 1979-1980 team. 40 years ago, to the day, those Gaels completed a historic upset against No. 2 Louisville, 77-60, in the primetime game at Madison Square Garden.
- In their two games against the Gaels, the Broncs shot a combined 19-for-45 (42.2%) from the free throw line.
- Iona outscored Iona in points off turnovers (16-6), second chance points (16-6), bench points (10-5) and points in the paint (44-26).
- The Gaels 11 three-pointers against the Broncs, their highest total since January 26 against Monmouth.
- Rider played 12 players in the game compared to just seven for the Maroon & Gold.
AROUND THE MAAC
- Saint Peter's won on the road against Manhattan, 67-64. The Peacocks improved to 11-5 in the MAAC behind 18 points from Aaron Estrada. KC Ndefo netted 11 points off the bench.
- Kevin Marfo had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds to help Quinnipiac defeat the Canisius Golden Griffins, 66-64.
- The Stags trailed by as many as 17 but came from behind to defeat the Niagara Purple Eagles, 61-60.
- Monmouth went to Poughkeepsie and earned a 65-61 overtime win against the Red Foxes. The spark plug off the bench was Melik Martin Scoring 10 points.
UP NEXT
The Maroon & Gold have its annual Western, NY trip late in the regular season. On Thursday, February 27 the Gaels play the Canisius College Golden Griffins. On Saturday, February 29, Iona tips-off against the Niagara University Purple Eagles.
Iona is aiming to sweep the regular season series against Canisius and earn a split against Niagara.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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