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Iona University Athletics

Adam Njie Jr.
Andrew Loewe - Tarleton State
80
Iona Iona 2-6,0-0 MAAC
83
Winner Indiana St. INS 4-4,0-0 MVC
Iona Iona
2-6,0-0 MAAC
80
Final
83
Indiana St. INS
4-4,0-0 MVC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Iona Iona 45 35 80
Indiana St. INS 45 38 83

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

Late Comeback Effort Falls Short in Iona MBB Loss to Indiana State

NASSAU, BAHAMAS - A game-tying three-point attempt fell just short in the Iona University men's basketball team's 83-80 loss to Indiana State in the Gaels' second game at the 2024 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship. Senior Dejour Reaves matched a career-high with 30 points while rookie Adam Njie Jr. added a career-best 21 in the loss.

THE RUNDOWN

Iona jumped out to an early 12-5 lead just over three minutes into the contest with the help of an 8-0 run. Njie and Reaves book ended the run that included three straight steals and fast-break layups. After an Indiana State three, Njie and junior Yaphet Moundi combined for five straight points to make it a 17-8 lead at 15:07. The Sycamores scored six of the next eight points to cut it to five. Back-to-back threes by Reaves gave the Maroon & Gold the only double-digit lead for either team, as the Gaels led 25-14 with 12:35 left in the half. Indiana state chipped away, weathered two more Reaves' three balls, and scored nine straight points to gain a 34-32 advantage with just before the seven minute mark. Iona answered with eight straight of their own and led 40-34 at 4:29. The Sycamores rallied again and took a three-point lead in the final minute before Reaves fifth three-pointer of the half went through at the buzzer to even the score at 45-45 at the break.
 
The second half stayed within two possessions until a wild final minute of play. After Reaves hit a sixth three ball with 8:25 remaining capped a 9-0 run that gave his team a 64-60 advantage, the Gaels struggled from the field, with just one bucket over a seven and a half minute stretch. A 12-2 Sycamore run over a 3:52 span put Iona's opponent ahead 79-72 with 52 ticks on the clock. Iona finally found the bottom of the net with 22 seconds left when junior Kernan Bundy buried a corner three to make it a four-point game. After a 1-for-2 effort from the line by Indiana State, Njie walked into a straight on three-pointer to cut it to two points with 12 seconds on the clock. Another 1-for-2 effort by the Sycamores gave Iona a chance to tie, but Reaves was quickly fouled. He sank both free throws and Iona trailed 81-80 with six seconds left. K'mani Doughty hit both ensuing free throws to make it 83-80. Up three, Indiana State fouled Njie to send him to the line for two. A scramble for the rebound after the second free throw landed in Njie's hands and a three-pointer from the wing just missed tying the contest and forcing overtime.

IONA STATISTICS

  • Reaves shot 11-for-18 from the field and 6-of-9 from distance. He matched his career-high set with Northern Colorado last December vs. Texas A&M Commerce. His six three pointers set a new career high. The senior added four rebounds, three steals and two assists in 39 minutes of action.
  • Njie posted 21 points, including 17 in the second half. He was 8-for-16 in the game and matched a season-best with six rebounds while adding four assists and two steals.
  • Moundi recorded 12 points and nine rebounds, adding an assist and a steal.
  • Bundy scored all seven of his points in the second half while recording eight rebounds.

THE OPPONENT

  • Five Sycamores scored in double figures led by Doughty's 17-point effort.
  • Jaden Daughtry had 17 points, six rebounds and three steals.
  • Josiah LeGree posted 14 points with three three-pointers and four assists.
  • Samage Teel had 13 points and led with eight rebounds.

TEAM STATS

  • Indiana State outshot Iona 52.9%-46.9% and led 11-9 in three-point connections.
  • The Gaels held a 36-29 advantage on the boards, grabbing 14 on the offensive glass led by Bundy's seven.
  • The Maroon & Gold led in second chance points (10-7), points off turnovers (27-18), and fast break points (18-7).
  • Iona had 12 assists and 14 turnovers while Indiana State posted 17 assists and 17 giveaways.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

  • Reaves scored 23 of his game-high 30 in the first half, the most for an Iona performer since Isaiah Ross scored 21 vs. Monmouth in February 2021 at the Hynes Center. It was the Gaels first 30+ point effort of the season.
  • With Indiana State keying on the Gaels' top scorer, Njie and Bundy combined for 24 points in the final 20 minutes including two key three-pointers in the final 30 seconds.
  • The Gaels recorded 10 or more steals for the fifth time in the team's first eight contests.

UP NEXT

Iona completes action in the Bahamas tomorrow vs. Rice at 2 p.m. on FloCollege.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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Iona Men's Basketball: Twitter, Facebook. Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)







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