BELMONT PARK, NY - The Iona College men's basketball team used a 51-point second half effort in an 83-72 win over Delaware in non-conference action at UBS Arena. The Gaels trailed for the first 22 minutes of the contest and by double-figures early in the first frame in the victory over the Colonial Athletic Association preseason favorite Blue Hens. Rookie Walter Clayton Jr. poured in a career-high 21 points to lead the Maroon & Gold.

THE RUNDOWN

Iona started the game ice cold from the field in the first half, connecting on just one of its first 11 attempts - including seven straight at one point - and trailed 13-2 just six and a half minutes into the contest. The Gaels got within three points with under four minutes to play on a three-pointer by sophomore Ryan Myers. Two late Delaware free throws made it a seven-point Iona deficit at the break.
 
The advantage for the Blue Hens was short lived as Iona scored 10 straight out of the gate to take its first lead of the contest. The Gaels surrendered the lead for the final time two possessions later, on back-to-back Delaware layups. Clayton's three-ball with 13:57 was the final lead change of the contest and sparked a decisive 16-4 run that saw the Maroon & Gold's lead jump to 60-51 with 9:14 to play following two free throws from graduate Dylan van Eyck. Delaware would not get any closer than seven the rest of the way.

IONA PERFORMERS

• Clayton shot 8-for-11 from the field and was 4-for-5 from long distance. He added five rebounds, two assists and two steals in 22 minutes off the bench. The rookie point guard set or matched career-highs in points, rebounds, field goals, three-point field goals, and steals. Eighteen of his 21 points came in the second half.
• Sophomore Nelly Junior Joseph recorded his career-long third straight double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. He is the first Gael since Tajuan Agee in February 2019 to post three-in-a-row. Junior Joseph matched a career-best with four assists, previously accomplished in his second game in Maroon & Gold last season.
• Graduate Elijah Joiner matched a season-high with 13 points with 10 coming in the first half. He was limited to 20 minutes due to foul trouble.
• Graduate Tyson Jolly's quiet first half where he missed his only shot attempt, became a loud second half with 12 points on a 4-for-5 effort from long distance. Jolly matched a team-best with four assists while also grabbing four rebounds.

THE OPPONENT

• Delaware's Jameer Nelson Jr. posted a game-high 29 points and completed a double-double with 10 boards.  Nineteen of his 29 came in the first half. 
• Kevin Anderson added 17 points and five assists.

TEAM STATS 

• Iona held a slim shooting lead, 48.4%-47.3% while Delaware held a 33-32 edge on the boards.
• Once again, the Gaels won the assist-to-turnover battle with 18 assists and 11 turnovers to the Blue Hens 13 and 16.
• Another key factor on that note was a 20-11 advantage for Iona in points off turnovers.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Joiner and Junior Joseph combined for 20 of Iona's 32 first half points. Clayton Jr. and Jolly combined for 30 of Iona's 51 second half points. 
• The Gaels complete the scheduled non-conference portion of their schedule with an 8-2 mark.  The .800 winning percentage in non-league regular season play is the fourth-best in program history (1984-85: 11-1; 1995-96: 10-2; 1997-98: 9-2).  The eight non-league wins are the most for the program since the MAAC went to a 20-game league schedule in 2013-14 and the most since 9-3 efforts in 2009-10 and 2011-12. The program is in search of an 11th contest prior to the resumption of MAAC play on New Year's Eve. 
• Rick Pitino's 22-8 record in his first 30 contests as an Iona head coach matches Tim Welsh's start to his Iona tenure in 1995-96 and 1996-97.  Tim Cluess' Gaels were 21-9 to begin the 2010-11 season.
• Iona has at least 10 wins in its first 12 tries for the eighth time in program history and first time since 2011-12.  Only the 1984-85 squad had a better start in the MAAC-era for the Maroon & Gold (11-1).

UP NEXT

• The Gaels are currently scheduled to resume action on New Year's Eve when they host Siena at the Hynes Center for a 1 p.m. tip off.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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