LEWISTON, NY - The Iona College men's basketball team snapped its eight-game winning streak in an 80-71 defeat at Niagara in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play at the Gallagher Center. The Purple Eagles used second half run to hand the Gaels their first conference defeat of the season. The Maroon & Gold is now 19-4 overall and 11-1 in MAAC play.

THE RUNDOWN

Iona raced out to an eight-point lead at 23-15 in the first 8:27 of the contest.  The advantage quickly evaporated eight straight points by Niagara.  The margin remained within one possession for all but one turn as the Purple Eagles took a two-point lead into the break.
 
Iona held a 52-50 advantage at the 11:45 mark of the second half. Niagara ripped off 10 straight points and extended the run to 16-3 to take a 66-55 lead with 5:34 remaining. The Gaels chipped away and got within one possession with 2:44 left to play. Graduate Elijah Joiner scored nine straight Iona points wrapped around a field goal and a free throw by the Purple Eagles during the run. After two more Niagara free throws a Quinn Slazinski four-point play made the score 71-68. It would be the Gaels' final field goal of the contest as the home team held off the Iona in the last minute of play.

IONA PERFORMERS

• Joiner led Iona with 22 points in his return after missing Friday night's contest due to illness. He added a team-high four assists and converted a career-best five three-point field goals in the loss.
• Graduate Tyson Jolly and freshman Walter Clayton Jr. each posted 12 points. Each also had a rebound, an assist, and a steal.
• Sophomore Nelly Junior Joseph posted eight points and six rebounds, senior Berrick JeanLouis had four points, seven rebounds and two assists and graduate Dylan van Eyck added three points, seven rebounds and four assists.

THE OPPONENT

• Niagara's Marcus Hammond poured in 26 points to go along with six assists and four rebounds.
• Noah Thomasson had 23 points and four assists, playing all 40 minutes.
• Sam Iorio added 12 points and nine rebounds while Jordan Cintron grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

TEAM STATS

• The Purple Eagles outshot the Gaels 50.9% - 42.9%. The margin was 48.1% - 32.3% in the second half.
• After an even rebounding split at the half, Niagara held the game margin 33-28.
• The home team also led the assist-to-turnover advantage as well, with 16 assists to just five turnovers while the Gaels recorded 14 assists and 10 turnovers.

UP NEXT

• The pivotal part of Iona's schedule continues next Friday for the start of a three-games-in-five-days stretch against the three teams nearest the Gaels in the standings.
• The team travels to Siena to take on the Saints in a 9 p.m. tilt on ESPNU at MVP Arena before a quick turnaround for Super Bowl Sunday as they host Monmouth at 1 p.m. at the Hynes Center.
• The final contest sees Iona take on second-place Saint Peter's on the road next Tuesday (Feb. 15) night.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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