HAMDEN, CT - The Iona College men's basketball team earned its fifth straight win, improving to 16-3 overall and remaining unbeaten in MAAC play at 8-0. The Gaels used second half surge to defeat Quinnipiac 76-61 on the road at People's United Center.

THE RUNDOWN

Iona started quick and opened a 13-point advantage just over five minutes into the game. Sophomore Nelly Junior Joseph's layup made the score 21-8 at the 14:25 mark. The Bobcats stormed back and took a lead in the game just over six minutes later. The score stayed withing two possessions for the remainder of the half and was tied at 33-33 at the break.
 
Quinnipiac quickly opened a five-point lead to start the second half, scoring seven of the first nine points in the first 1:33. The Gaels answered with five straight and another Joseph layup knotted the score at 40-40 with 17:40 to play. The two teams jockeyed for position over the next nine minutes. After Bobcat graduate Kevin Marfo's dunk at 8:42 tied the score at 51, Iona controlled the game the rest of the way, outscoring its host 25-10 including an 11-3 advantage in the final 89 seconds in route to the victory.

IONA PERFORMERS

• Graduate Tyson Jolly posted an all-around effort with 20 points and seven rebounds with an assist and four steal. He shot 6-for-12 from the field with two three-pointers and a 6-for-6 effort from the charity stripe.
• Graduate Elijah Joiner added 12 points with five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
• Junior Joseph posted 12 points, eight boards three assists and a block.
• Graduate Dylan van Eyck recorded nine points, two rebounds, two assists and three blocks.
• Sophomore Ryan Myers had seven points, all coming during the late run, including a key three-pointer to put the visitors up seven with 6:39 to play and making it a three-possession game for the first time since early in the first half. He also added three assists in the win.

THE OPPONENT

• Three Bobcats posted double-digit point efforts. Sophomore Dezi Jones led with 13 points and Luis Kortright had 12.
• Marfo posted 11 points and eight rebounds while Brendan McGuire posted eight points, nine rebounds and a team-high five assists in the loss.

TEAM STATISTICS

• As a result of the late surge, the Gaels outshot the Bobcats 42.4% - 39.3%.
• Quinnipiac held the edge on the boards 42-36, but it was Iona who led with 11-9 on second chance points.
• The Maroon & Gold posted 18 assists to just seven turnovers while the Bobcats had 14 assists and 17 turnovers. As a result, the Gaels held a decisive 18-5 advantage on points off turnovers.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• After connecting on 6-of-13 (46.2%) three point attempts in the first half, the Bobcats made just 2-of-10 (20.0%) in the second.
• During the big run over the final 8:42, Iona connected on 9-of-13 field goal attempts, 5-of-6 free throw attempts and recorded only one turnover.  The Bobcats shot 3-for-12, 0-of-4 from deep and had three turnovers.
• Prior to this season, the Gaels best unbeaten stretch to start the MAAC season was 6-0, accomplished twice.

UP NEXT

The Gaels are back in action in two nights (Tuesday, January 25) when they host Siena at the Hynes Center for a 7 p.m. tip on ESPN3.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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