NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona University men's basketball team earned a 61-54 win over Saint Francis University in non-conference action at the Hynes Center. The Gaels survived a late surge by the Red Flash, scoring 12 of the game's final 15 points in the last three minutes to hold serve at home. Freshman
Jean Aranguren scored a career-best 20 points and the Maroon & Gold's rookie quintet 43 of the team's 61 points in the victory.
THE RUNDOWN
The first half margin remained within two possessions the entire duration with Saint Francis' largest advantage at six points coming early when a Cam Gregory three-pointer put the visitors ahead 8-2 less than four minutes into the contest. Iona's biggest lead was four when rookie
Jeremiah Quigley's free throw gave the Maroon & Gold a 21-17 lead at 4:06. The Gaels scored the final four points in the final minute on two Quigley free throws and a
Sultan Adewale layup to give Iona a 25-24 lead at the half.
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The second half remained competitive, and Iona trailed for just a two-minute span in the latter stages. A steal and breakaway dunk by graduate
Terrell Williams Jr. put the Gaels ahead 47-40, their largest lead to that point, at the midway point. Iona went cold and Saint Francis went on a 9-0 run over a three and a half minute span to take a 49-40 lead with 4:44 to play. The Gaels went without a field goal for a 7:22 stretch before a massive four-point play by Aranguren with 2:44 left swung the pendulum back in the home team's favor, sparking the decisive run and giving Iona the lead for good.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Aranguren shot 7-for-9 from the field, 3-for-4 from long distance and 3-for-5 from the charity stripe to account for his best scoring output of the season of 21 points. He also added four rebounds, two blocks, an assist, and a steal in 23 minutes off the bench.
- Quigley posted 12 points, doing most of his damage from the free throw line with an 8-for-10 effort. He posted seven rebounds and a team-best six assists along with two steals.
- Williams Jr. had nine points, seven boards and two steals in one of his most productive efforts as a Gael.
- Adewale chipped in eight points, five rebounds and three blocks.
- Freshman Alex Bates IV posted three points in the first half to run Iona's rookie scoring total to 43 points.
THE OPPONENT
- Gregory was the Red Flash's top scorer with 17 points with a stat-stuffing six rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks.
- Eli Wilborn posted a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double with three blocks.
- Carlos Lopez led with five assists while scoring seven points and posting five rebounds.
TEAM STATISTICS
- A tough shooting night for both teams saw Iona hold a 34.5%-30.0% advantage over its opponent.
- Saint Francis held a 44-38 advantage on the boards, but it was the Gaels who held a 12-10 lead on second chance points.
- Iona had 14 assists to 10 turnovers while the Red Flash posted 12 assists and 15 giveaways. Iona held a slight 11-8 lead on points off turnovers.
UP NEXT
The Gaels are back in action in the finale of a tripleheader at the Holiday Hoops Fest at UBS Arena on Saturday, December 16 vs. a formidable opponent in Saint Joseph's. The Gaels and Hawks tipoff at 7 p.m. following Bryant and Towson at 2 p.m. and Rhode Island vs. Delaware at 4:30 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow Iona University athletics on all social media platforms:
Iona Athletics: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
Iona Men's Basketball: Twitter, Facebook. Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
