NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College men's basketball team pulled away late in an 82-74 victory over Hofstra in non-conference action at the Hynes Center. The Gaels never trailed in the contest, but saw a second-half double-digit advantage erased, but ended the game on an 17-10 run. Graduate Tyson Jolly led four double-digit scorers with a season-high 21 points in the win.
 
The win improves Iona's record to 3-0 for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign. The Gaels are unbeaten in their first three games for the 18th time in their 77-year history.
 
Iona jumped out to a 14-2 advantage just 4:24 into the contest with sophomore Nelly Junior Joseph establishing an dominance with seven points and three offensive rebounds. When the reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year picked up his second foul at the 13:53 mark, Hofstra chipped away and got as close as three points with the midway point of the frame. The Gaels regained a nine-point advantage before the end of the half and went into the break leading 39-32.
 
In the second half, Iona led 49-38 at the 16:10 mark, its largest lead of the frame. A 17-6 run by the Pride knotted the score at 55-55 with 10:45 remaining. The two teams traded buckets on the next two possessions and then traded 5-0 runs as the third and final tie score of the game came at 62-62 and 7:21 on the clock. It was a one-point game with 4:17 left before a decisive 8-0 run sparked by three straight forced turnovers and a defensive stop by the Gaels.
 
Jolly shot 8-for-15 from the field, 3-for-6 from deep and made both free throw attempts to account for his 21 points. He added four rebounds, three blocks, two assists and a steal in the all-around effort.
 
Junior Joseph posted 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal in just 19 minutes of play due to foul trouble. Graduate Dylan van Eyck posted his third straight double-digit effort to start the season with 11 points and six assists. He connected on 3-of-4 free throw attempts.
 
Junior Quinn Slazinski added 10 points, his first double-digit effort as a Gael. He posted four rebounds.
 
Graduate point guard Elijah Joiner had a near triple double with nine points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
 
Head coach Rick Pitino cited the defensive effort of senior Berrick JeanLouis as the most valuable performance of the night. JeanLouis scored seven points, seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Primarily responsible for guarding Hofstra's Zach Cooks, the Iona senior helped hold his opponent to just 4-of-17 shooting and 16.5 points under his early season average of 27.5 per game.

Another key contributer was rookie Jordan Wildy, who scored eight points in just six minutes of play, connecting on all three shot attempts, two from distance and a dunk.
 
The Pride also had four double-digit scorers. Graduate Jalen Ray had 20 points in his season-debut. Darlinstone Dubar posted 14 and Cooks and Aaron Estrada had 11 apiece.
 
The Gaels out shot (51.9%-39.7%) and out rebounded (36-35) Hofstra and had 20 assists to just 12 turnovers and had a season-high 10 blocked shots.
 
After three home games to start the season, Iona will play its next five contests at the HP Fieldhouse at ESPN's Wide World of Sports in Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, FL. The first two contests take place Friday and Saturday as the Maroon & Gold faces Liberty and North Alabama as part of the MAAC-ASun Challenge.