NEW ROCHELLE, NY- The Iona University men's basketball team earned a season-best third straight win, in a 72-68 win over archrival Siena in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play at the Hynes Center. Senior
Dejour Reaves led the way with 24 points and junior
Luke Jungers and rookie
Adam Njie Jr. had 16 points apiece to lead the Gaels.
THE RUNDOWN
The Gaels got off to a fast start, scoring seven straight to begin the contest less than three minutes in. Siena chipped away and closed within one with 10:51 to play at 13-12. The game remained within one possession over the next six-plus minutes with a couple of tie scores and lead chances. Trailing 21-20 at the 5:44 mark, the Maroon & Gold embarked on a 10-0 run to take a 30-21 lead just over two and a half minutes later. Back-to-back threes by Jungers and rookie
Justin Menard within 12 seconds of each other highlighted the effort. Siena closed to within three points with a 10-4 run to close out the half.
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Mirroring the start, Iona scored the first seven points of the second frame to earn a double-digit advantage for the first time at the 16:29 mark. Another three-ball by Jungers made the score 41-31. The run extended to 12-3 leading to a 14-point margin, the largest of the game for the Gaels at 15:55. Siena was down 10 after a Reaves three-pointer from the wing with 13:27 to play and answered with a 9-0 run to bring the game to 51-50 with 11 minutes to play. The Saints took a brief lead for 21 seconds at 6:58. A pair of free throws by junior
Kernan Bundy resulted in the final lead change of the game. With the score tied at 62-62, Iona scored five straight to build a small cushion with less than three minutes left. The Gaels were up six points with a minute to play after a Reaves free throw. Siena answered with a three pointer to cut it to three, but it was as close as it would get. After a defensive stop each way, the Gaels could not add to the lead at the free throw line after a defensive board. Iona got a key turnover by the Saints on an offensive foul that negated a game-tying attempt with less than 10 seconds to play. Njie connected on a free throw to make it a two-possession game with less than three seconds to play, sending the happy Hynes crowd home with the four-point victory.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Reaves shot 10-for-17 from the field with a three-pointer and a 3-for-4 effort from the line. He added six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in the all-around effort.
- Jungers had a season-best 16 points with four trifectas drained. He posted three rebounds, two assists and a block.
- Njie shot 7-for-12 from the field and had a game-high seven assists to go along with two rebounds and a steal.
- Menard had six points, three assists and three rebounds and three steals.
- Junior Yaphet Moundi posted six points and a game-best 11 rebounds with two blocks and an assist.
THE OPPONENT
- Doty and teammate Brendan Coyle each had 20+ points in the loss.
- Coyle had 22 with the help of a 5-for-10 effort from long distance. He added six rebounds and two assists.
- Doty had 20 points, four rebounds and two steals.
- Justice Shoats led with four assists and Myles Wilmoth had eight rebounds.
TEAM STATS
- Iona out shot Siena 46.6%-38.9% for the game.
- The Gaels also held a 36-32 rebounding advantage and 12-9 on the offensive glass but trailed 9-6 on second chance points.
- The Maroon & Gold had 17 assists and 15 turnovers. Siena posted 13 assists and 14 giveaways while holding an 18-13 advantage in points off turnovers.
UP NEXT
Another rivalry game awaits the Gaels next Friday when they travel to Riverdale to take on Manhattan in a 7 p.m. tipoff on January 31.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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