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Iona University Athletics

Osborn Shema at Canisius
Ken Morey - Canisius Athletics
80
Winner Iona Iona 17-7,10-3 MAAC
59
Canisius Canis 5-18,3-11 MAAC
Winner
Iona Iona
17-7,10-3 MAAC
80
Final
59
Canisius Canis
5-18,3-11 MAAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Iona Iona 40 40 80
Canisius Canis 33 26 59

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Brian Beyrer / Sr. Associate AD / Athletic Communications

Iona MBB Wins Fourth Straight, Tops Canisius 80-59

BUFFALO, NY - The Iona University men's basketball team earned its fourth straight win in an 80-59 road victory over Canisius in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Koessler Center. Sophomore Walter Clayton Jr. had a team-high 19 points and senior Osborn Shema had a career-high 16 points to lead the Gaels. With a mid-range jumper late in the second half, junior Nelly Junior Joseph became the 42nd player in Iona history to record 1,000 points. The Maroon & Gold had four runs of at least 10 points, two in each half, and shot a season-best 64.7% from the field.

THE RUNDOWN

The Gaels got off to a fast start, leading 10-0 just over three minutes into the contest. Canisius quickly erased the deficit, scoring 13 straight of their own with rookie Tahj Staveskie netting 11 during the run. The two teams traded leads in the next minute before a second 10-0 run for Iona gave the visitors the lead for good. Shema's dunk on the fast break with 7:43 remaining gave the Gaels their first double-digit lead since the 10-0 start at 24-15. The Maroon & Gold led by as many as 14 in the first half on Berrick Jeanlouis' layup at 4:44. The Griffs scored the final six points of the half to cut their deficit to 40-33 at the break.
 
Canisius got as close as five points just over two minutes into the half. Iona responded with its third double-digit run, ripping off 11 straight points in a three minute span and led 53-37 at 14:36. The Griffs got within nine points at the midway point of the frame before the Gaels ran off another 11 straight to take a 20-point, 68-48 advantage following a Shema three-ball prior to the under-8 minute media timeout. Iona's largest lead of the contest at 21 points came in the final minute, the last tally of the game for either squad.

IONA PERFORMERS

  • Clayton Jr. posted 14 of his 19 points in the first half. He shot 7-for-12 from the field with four three-point field goals and added two rebounds, two assists and a steal.
  • Shema's career-best effort came on 7-of-10 shooting with two trifectas. He recorded six rebounds, three assists and a steal.
  • Junior Joseph had his 11-game double double streak snapped in a 15-point, eight rebound effort. Junior Joseph played just eight minutes in the first half after picking up his second foul and just 26 minutes in the contest.
  • Junior Daniss Jenkins recorded nine points, five rebounds and a game-high six assists with two steals and a block.
  • Jeanlouis posted eight points with five rebounds, three steals and two assists.
  • Rookies Cruz Davis and Sadiku Ibine Ayo added seven and six points, respectively.

THE OPPONENT

  • Staveskie netted a career-best 26 points -with 17 coming in the first half - and added four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
  • Jamir Moultrie added 11 points, all in the second half.
  • Xsavier Long posted nine points and a team-best six rebounds.

TEAM STATS

  • Iona out shot (64.7%-37.7%) and out rebounded (32-22) Canisius in the contest.
  • The Griffs had a 13-8 advantage on second chance points. The Gaels dominated the paint 40-22. Points off turnovers was even at 23-23.
  • Iona posted 15 assists and 16 turnovers. It was just the third time this season the Gaels had more turnovers than assists. The giveaway total was the third highest of the season.
  • Canisius had 10 assists and 14 turnovers.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

  • Iona's 64.7% field goal percentage was not only a season-best effort, but it was the second-highest single-game effort in the 21st century for the Maroon & Gold. The only game that eclipsed the mark was a 66.7% performance in a 102-65 win at Manhattan on February 16, 2011.
  • Junior Joseph follows Rickey McGill and EJ Crawford in 2018-19 as the latest Gael greats to join the 1,000-point club in Maroon & Gold. Several Gael performers over the last three seasons have reached the mark for their collegiate careers splitting the effort between Iona and a previous NCAA institution including: Asante Gist, Isaiah Ross, Elijah Joiner and Tyson Jolly.
  • The Gaels remain tied in the loss-column in the MAAC standings with first-place Rider following the Broncs win over Fairfield at home tonight. Rider has one more win than Iona. The Maroon & Gold can tie them in the standings with a win on Sunday as the Broncs are not scheduled to play.

UP NEXT

The Gaels seek their fifth straight win and complete the Western New York swing when they face Niagara Sunday. The Purple Eagles have won five in a row after outlasting Quinnipiac at home tonight.

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)





 
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