NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona University men's basketball team erased a 15-point second half deficit, took the lead for good with just over three minutes remaining and held on to a 62-59 win over Vermont in non-conference action at the Hynes Center. Senior
Dejour Reaves and junior
James Patterson had season-high point scoring efforts, netting 22 and 18 respectively to lead the Gaels in their first win of the 2024-25 campaign.
THE RUNDOWN
Vermont led or was tied with the Iona for all but 14 seconds in the first half, but the game remained within two possessions until the Catamounts final one. A three-pointer by TJ Hurley with 32 seconds left in the frame but the visitors ahead by eight points, 31-32 heading into halftime.
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Maintaing the high single-digit, low-double digit advantage through the first four plus minutes of the second half, Vermont scored six straight points to take a 43-28 advantage with 14:43 to play. Trailing by 14 less than a minute later, Iona scored 12 straight points over the next 5:41 to make it 45-43 with 8:34 to play. Vermont answered with five quick points to lead by seven. The Gaels added nine in a row in an 84 second stretch that put the home team ahead 51-50 at the 5:45 mark. During the run, Patterson hit a three from the wing and followed it up with a steal and a bucket to cut the deficit from six to one. Senior
Clarence Rupert put the Maroon & Gold on top with a strong move to the rim in the post. Vermont regained the lead briefly on its next possession. Reaves was fouled on a three point attempt on the Gaels next turn and sank all three free throws to give the home team a 54-52 advantage at 4:45. After Vermont tied it at the foul line, Patterson put Iona ahead for good with a layup following an offensive rebound. Iona led by six with 14 seconds remaining, but a quick three-pointer by TJ Long made it 62-59 with under five seconds to play. The Gaels were unable to control the inbounds pass and turned the ball over, giving the Catamounts a chance to send the game into overtime. Vermont missed the game tying bucket as Iona controlled the rebound as time expired.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Reaves shot 7-for-16 from the field with a three-pointer and was 7-for-7 from the charity stripe. He added five rebounds, two assists, and three steals in the all-around effort.
- Patterson had 18 points and six rebounds to go along with two steals and was credited by the bench with the most deflections among his teammates.
- Rupert had six points and four boards. Freshman Adam Njie posted five points, four rebounds, a team-high four assists and two steals.
- Junior Yaphet Moundi led the Gaels with seven rebounds.
- The game saw the debut of graduate Jalen Barr, who in limited minutes grabbed four rebounds but served as a menace for the Gaels on their defensive efforts.
THE OPPOENT
- Long led with 18 points, adding four three-pointers, four rebounds and three steals in 37 minutes. It was his return to the Hynes Center after spending his freshman and sophomore campaigns at Iona's MAAC rival Fairfield.
- Hurley added 16 points with three three-pointers.
- Shamir Bogues had seven points and led with five assists and four rebounds.
TEAM STATS
- Vermont outshot Iona from the field (45.7%-36.8%), from distance (32.0%-26.3%) and from the line (75.0%-65.2%).
- Iona's bid advantage came on the glass with a 45-21 difference overall and 19-1 on the offensive boards. The home team held an 18-2 advantage on second chance points.
- The +24 rebounding margin was the second largest this century, following a +26 in a win vs. Coppin State on December 23, 2020, and ahead of a +22 vs. Sacred Heart on November 15, 2006.
UP NEXT
Iona travels to Morgantown, WV for a date with West Viriginia on Wednesday (November 20) at 7 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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