NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Hosting Fordham for the first time in 21 years, the Iona University men's basketball team earned a 76-71 win over the Rams in front of a sold-out Hynes Center crowd in non-conference action. Overcoming a 10-point first-half deficit and the longest stretch trailing in the three-game tenure of head coach
Dan Geriot, the Maroon & Gold rallied late, outscoring Fordham 16-7 over the final 4:42 to seal the win. Graduate
CJ Anthony led the way with a team-best 21 points, including 10 during the decisive run. Senior
Lamin Sabally filled the box score again with 11 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and a steal. Graduate
Toby Harris added 10 points as the third Gael in double figures.
THE RUNDOWN
A cold start left the Gaels down 15-5 through six minutes, but Iona responded with an 11-1 run as juniors
Matt Reed and
Chase Cormier buried back-to-back threes to tie the game at 16-16. The rest of the half remained tight, featuring 10 lead changes and three ties. In the final minute, junior
Kosy Akametu threw down an alley-oop from Sabally, followed by a corner three from graduate
Luke Jungers to send Iona into halftime up 36-33.
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Graduate
Keshawn Williams gave Iona its largest lead at 48-41 with a stepback jumper early in the second half. Fordham countered and grabbed a 57-56 advantage on a layup by former Gael
Dejour Reaves with 11:32 left. The Rams held the lead for the next seven minutes. Trailing 64-58 with under eight minutes to play, sophomore
Khalil Badru scored on a hook shot to cut the gap to four. After more than three minutes without a point from either team, Williams knocked down two free throws to spark Iona's closing surge. Anthony scored seven of the next nine points as Iona went ahead 71-66 with 2:12 to play, and the Gaels earned the win by converting at the line and making key stops.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Anthony delivered his second straight 20-point home performance, shooting 6-for-10 with two threes while adding a career-high eight assists, two rebounds, and two steals.
- Sabally went 5-for-10 and contributed 11 points, eight boards, six assists, two blocks, and a steal for another all-around effort.
- Harris posted 10 points and six rebounds, shooting 4-for-8 overall and 2-for-4 from deep.
- Williams scored all nine of his points in the second half.
- Junior Kosy Akametu added eight points and six rebounds.
- All 10 Gaels who played more than five minutes scored, with 11 players seeing action.
THE OPPONENT
- Dejour Reaves led all scorers with 22 points, adding five rebounds and four assists.
- Christian Henry contributed 16 points and six assists.
- Rikus Schulte totaled 10 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks.
- Akira Jacobs secured a game-high 10 rebounds with six points.
TEAM STATS
- Iona outshot Fordham 49.2%–40.0% for the game and hit 38.1% (8-for-21) from beyond the arc, while holding the Rams to 18.8% (6-for-32) from long range.
- Fordham held a 48-31 rebounding advantage, including 19-6 on the offensive glass, converting those into a 21-1 margin in second-chance points.
- Iona recorded 18 assists and seven turnovers, while Fordham posted 16 assists and 11 turnovers.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Iona begins 3-0 for the first time since 2021-22 and for the 19th time in program history.
- Geriot becomes just the second first-year Iona head coach to start 3-0; Gene Roberti opened the 1973-74 campaign at 4-0.
- The Gaels and Rams met for the first time since 2006-07 and will resume the series at Rose Hill in 2026.
UP NEXT
Iona hosts Princeton Tuesday night at the Hynes Center for a 7 p.m. tip-off on ESPN+.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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Iona Athletics: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
Iona Men's Basketball: Twitter, Facebook. Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
