NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College men's basketball team battled Marist to the wire for a second time this season, and earned a similar result, in a 69-66 win over the Red Foxes in MAAC play at the Hynes Center. The Gaels out scored its opponent 11-2 over the final 3:30 to earn the victory.
 
Similar to the ending of the game in Poughkeepsie just over a month ago, the Maroon & Gold ratcheted up the defensive effort in the waning moments to earn the win. During the decisive run, Iona held Marist to 1-for-6 shooting from the field and four turnovers.

THE RUNDOWN

The first half saw each team leading by less than two possessions the entire frame. Iona led 17-12 on graduate Tyson Jolly's layup with 11:51 on the clock for its largest lead. Marist earned its five-point advantage following back-to-back three balls from Javon Cooley. The second put the visitors ahead 29-24 at the 2:45 mark. Iona responded with five straight points to knot the score at 29 and the two teams traded buckets in the final minute for a deadlocked 31-31 score at the break.
 
Marist freshman Jao Ituka gave his team its largest advantage at 43-36 less than four minutes into the half. The Red Foxes maintained a single-digit advantage for the first 17:13 of the frame. After senior Samkelo Cele gave the Red Foxes a six-point lead with a three-pointer at the 4:00 mark, the Gaels began their climb. Nine straight points put Iona ahead for the first time since the four-minute mark of the first half. Jolly hit a turnaround jumper, followed by a tough transition layup from classmate Elijah Joiner to make it a one-point game. An emphatic dunk by Jolly off a nice feed from sophomore Nelly Junior Joseph put the Maroon & Gold ahead. Junior Joseph converted two free throws to make it a three-point game. After a Marist bucket, freshman Clayton sank two free throws to make it 69-66. A three-point attempt by the Red Foxes as time expired fell short and Iona improved to 3-0 in MAAC play.

IONA PERFORMERS

• Jolly led the way with 18 points. He shot 9-of-12 from the field, while grabbing three rebounds and dishing out three assists.
• Joiner, Junior Joseph, and sophomore Ryan Myers each posted 11 points.
• Joiner dished out four assists and had a steal.
• Junior Joseph grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and matched his career-high with five blocks.
• Myers posted four rebounds, and two steals.
• Clayton Jr. had 10 points, with the help of a 6-for-7 effort from the free throw line. He had four assists, three rebounds and three steals in just 21 minutes due to early foul trouble.

THE OPPONENT

• Ituka led the Red Foxes with 13 points
• Sophomore Ricardo Wright added 11. Cele posted eight points and six rebounds
• Senior Matt Herasme had five points and six boards for the visitors.

TEAM STATS

• After being outshot for most of the contest, the Gaels final four minutes on defense and a 66.7% field goal percentage effort in the second half led to a 48.7% - 45.8% lead for the game.
• Iona was out rebounded 35-31.
• The Gaels led the assist-to-turnover battle with 22 assists and 13 turnovers to the Red Foxes 14 and 19.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Iona improved to 11-2 overall, its best start since 1995-96 with a similar record. It is the sixth time in school history the program has at least 11 wins its first 13 games. The other best starts were 12-1 in 1949-50 and 1984-85 and 11-2 in 1948-49, 1952-53 and 1995-96.
• The Gaels are 3-0 in MAAC play for the first time since 2015-16 and the 10th time in 41 seasons.
• Rick Pitino's 23-8 record in his first 31 contests as an Iona head coach matches is the best among the 14 head coaches in program history.  Tim Welsh started 22-9 and Tim Cluess 21-10 as the only other Gaels coaches to earn at least 20 wins in their first 31 contests.

UP NEXT

The Maroon & Gold are scheduled to be back in action next Friday at Saint Peter's. The Peacocks were unable to compete this weekend due to COVID-19 issues. The status of Friday's game will be determined early this week.