NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona University men's basketball team erased a 12-point second half deficit and took a brief lead with under two minutes to play but could not finish off Delaware in a 64-58 loss in non-conference action at the Hynes Center. The Gaels played in their 2024-25 home opener in front of 2,028 fans and were led by 16 points apiece by senior
Dejour Reaves and junior
Yaphet Moundi.
THE RUNDOWN
An offensively anemic first half saw both teams shooting under 30.0% from the field in the first 20 minutes. Iona and Delaware combined for 60 rebounds in the first half, after the Gaels played their first contest with 58 rebounds between the two competitors in a full game at Princeton and 74 at Hofstra. The Blue Hens took a lead less than eight minutes in that they would hold until the final 94 seconds of the contest. The Blue Hens built its 12-point advantage at the 1:41 mark of the first half and went into the break with a 30-18 lead.
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Delaware scored the first points of the final 20 minutes to hold its largest lead at 14. An 8-0 run capped by a Moundi hook shot inside just over two minutes later made it a six-point, two-possession game with 16:40 to play. On four separate occasions, the Gaels pulled within three points, only once drawing closer than the margin. Trailing 55-49 at 2:56, Iona scored seven straights to take its first lead 92 seconds later. Reaves three-ball from the wing put the Maroon & Gold ahead 56-55. The Blue Hens answered with five straight with a pair of free throws and a three pointer, taking the lead for good. Iona cut it to two points with 17 ticks left but Delaware sank all four free throw attempts to account for the final margin.
IONA PERFOMRERS
- Moundi completed his first Division I double double with 18 rebounds to go along with his season-high 16 points. It has been 10 seasons since an Iona player reached a rebounding total that high. Former MAAC Player of the Year David Laury also grabbed 18 at Marist on February 20, 2015. The school record remains 20, held by Jonathan Duck in the 1990-91 season. Moundi had nine offensive rebounds while adding three steals and three blocked shots and shooting 6-for-8 from the field in 26 minutes off the bench.
- Reaves had his third-straight double-digit scoring effort with his season-best 16. He is the lone Gael to score 10 or more in each of the team's first three games. Reaves added four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.
- Freshman Adam Njie had six points, six rebounds and three assists.
- Senior Clarence Rupert also had 10 rebounds while junior Kernan Bundy added seven and classmate James Patterson had five.
THE OPPONENT
- Niels Lane and Tahron Allen each had 14 points to lead the visitors.
- Allen matched Cavan Reilly's team-best six rebounds.
- Three different players led with two assists.
TEAM STATS
- Delaware out shot Iona 37.3% to 30.1% as the Gaels shot just 4-for-22 from distance.
- The Gaels held a decisive advantage on the glass, 58-39, its sixth best rebounding margin advantage since 2003. The 58 total rebounds and 31 offensive rebounds were the highest this century. Iona grabbed 30 offensive boards vs. Niagara on March 6, 2004, in the MAAC Championship semifinal round and pushed a 25 offensive rebounding effort at Quinnipiac on January 2, 2016, to third.
- Iona had an 18-9 advantage on second chance points.
- Delaware had eight assists and 15 turnovers while the Gaels posted nine assists and 17 turnovers. Points off turnovers stood even at 14-14.
UP NEXT
The Gaels continue action at home Friday night vs. Vermont at 7 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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