NEW ROCHELLE, NY - A second half surge by the Iona University men's basketball team led to an 87-70 victory over Mount St. Mary's in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play at the Hynes Center. The Gaels outscored the Mountaineers 27-11 over the final 11 and a half minutes to snap a two-game skid at the quarter-mark of the MAAC campaign. Five Gaels recorded double-figure point totals led by a career-best 26 from junior Greg Gordon and a 10-point, 10-rebound double double by graduate
Osborn Shema.
THE RUNDOWN
Mount St. Mary's jumped out to an early 10-4 lead in the first seven-plus minutes of the contest as both teams struggled from the field early. The visitors connected on four of its first 13 attempts while the Gaels were just 2-for-11 to begin the contest with seven of the nine misses coming from point blank range. Iona rebounded with four straight makes to spark a 10-0 run and a 14-10 advantage at the midway point of the first half. Shema got the Maroon & Gold going with two electric second chance putbacks to start the run. The Mount knotted the score on two occasions in the final 10 minutes but never regained a lead. The game was tied for the final time at 26-26 at the 3:05 mark. Iona ended the frame on a 9-4 run to lead by five at the half, its largest advantage of the contest to that point.
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Prior to the decisive run, the Gaels led by as many as seven points three separate times early in the second half. Each time, the Mountaineers were able to get as close as one point but could not change the lead. Dallas Hobbs drained a three-pointer from the wing with 11:45 remaining to make the score 60-59. Iona ripped off seven straight and 14 of the next 18 points in the contest to earn its first double-digit advantage of the contest. Over the final six minutes, the Gaels added to their advantage, scoring 11 of the final 14 points of the game.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Gordon shot 9-for-14 from the field and 6-for-9 from the charity stripe, draining two long distance daggers to account for his Iona career-high 26 points. It was his second-straight 20+ point effort. Gordon added six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
- Graduate Wheza Panzo scored all 14 of his points in the second half, shooting 4-of-5 from long distance while adding two free throws. Panzo posted three rebounds and three steals in 26 minutes off the bench.
- Graduate Idan Tretout posted 13 points, five rebounds and a team-best four assists and committed zero turnovers in 30 minutes.
- Shema had his second collegiate double-double with the 10/10 effort. He was 5-for-7 from the field with three assists and three blocks.
- Rookie Jeremiah Quigley added 10 points, two rebounds and an assist.
- Freshman Jean Aranguren chipped in eight points and four steals.
- Graduate Joel Brown rounded out Iona's scoring effort with six points to go along with three rebounds, three assists and a steal.
THE OPPONENT
- The Mount's Dakota Lefew led the visitors with 20 points, connecting on four three pointers in the loss. He posted three rebounds and five assists.
- George Tinsley had 11 points and five boards.
- De'Shayne Montgomery had four points but a team-high six rebounds and six assists.
TEAM STATS
- Iona outshot Mount Saint Mary's for the game 52.3%-44.6% and 47.1%-36.4% from beyond the arc.
- After its 2-for-11 start, Iona finished the first half 11-for-21 and combined with a season-best field goal percentage effort in the second half, finished the contest 32-for-54 or just under 60% from the field.
- Mount St. Mary's converted seven of its first eight shot attempts in the second half, but just six of its final 20.
- The Gaels out rebounded the Mountaineers 38-30 for the contest including 14-9 on the offensive glass and held a 13-8 lead on second chance points.
- The Mount also jumped out to a quick start on the boards, outrebounding the Gaels 12-6 with six offensive rebounds in the first 6:45 of the contest. The remaining 33+ minutes, Iona held a 32-18 rebounding advantage and surrendered just three offensive rebounds the rest of the way.
- Iona posted 17 assists to just five turnovers, setting a season low in giveaways. Mount St. Mary's had 16 assists and 11 turnovers. Eight of the visitors' 11 turnovers came in the first half. There were just four combined turnovers for both squads in the second half. Iona held a 16-6 advantage in points of giveaways.
UP NEXT
Iona completes a three-game homestand next Friday when they host Canisius at the Hynes Center on Friday (Jan. 19) at 7 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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