NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College men's basketball team gritted out a 65-53 win over defending Sun Belt Conference champion Appalachian State tonight in front of a near sold out Hynes Center in non-conference play at the Hynes Center. The Gaels (1-0) picked up a victory on opening night, let by graduate guard Tyson Jolly's game-high 19 points and graduate forward Dylan van Eyck's 17 points.

THE RUNDOWN:

Trailing 27-25 at the break, Iona used a stifling defense and an efficient offense in the second half to propel itself to the win. The home team held App State to 29.0% from the field and shot 59.1% itself in the final 20 minutes. The Mountaineers largest lead came just over a minute into the second half, as it scored the first four points to take a 31-25 advantage. A Jolly jumper in the paint knotted the score at 31-31 with 16:56 remaining, but it was not until five minutes later that a 5-0 run led to a lead the Gaels would not relinquish. A Jolly field goal, followed by junior forward Quinn Slazinski's three-pointer from the top of the key gave Iona a 39-35 advantage with 11:56 to play. App State tied the score at 43-43 less than two minutes later but could not regain the advantage. Up seven with 4:36 on the clock, the Maroon & Gold surrendered five straight points and the Mountaineers got within two. Iona scored the games final 10 points, holding its opponent to 0-for-7 shooting with a turnover in the game's final 3:10 to seal the win.

IONA INDIVIDUALS

Jolly shot 8-for-13 from the field and added four rebounds and three assists. van Eyck scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half, with a 6-for-7 performance from the field, including five makes on five attempts from inside the arc. He led the Gaels with eight rebounds and had two assists. Sophomore Nelly Junior Joseph posted 12 points with three rebounds and two assists, Slazinski had seven points and graduate Elijah Joiner scored five points with four assists. Joiner's points all came in the final five minutes of the contest.

THE OPPONENT

App State was led by 15 points and eight boards by Adrian Delph. Michael Almonacy had nine points, Justin Forrest had eight, and James Lewis Jr. posted seven points and a game-high nine rebounds for the visitors.

TEAM STATS

Iona out shot App State 49.0% - 35.0% while the Mountaineers held a 37-35 advantage on the boards. The Gaels dished out 16 assists and committed just 12 turnovers in the win.

UP NEXT

The Gaels continue a three-game homestand to start the season when they host Ivy League favorite Harvard on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tilt.

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