ST. THOMAS, USVI - The Iona University men's basketball team fell just short in an 80-75 decision to Green Bay in the fourth-place contest at the 2025 Paradise Jam. Five Gaels reached double figures, led by senior
Lamin Sabally, who turned in a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center.
THE RUNDOWN
Iona opened strong, racing out to a 12-3 lead by the first media timeout. Green Bay responded with a 17-5 stretch to move ahead 21-17 midway through the half. Both teams saw their leads reach as many as six the rest of the period, and Iona held a 36-30 advantage in the final minute before a Phoenix three trimmed the margin to 36-33 at the break.
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The Gaels pushed the lead to 41-33 less than a minute into the second half, but Green Bay countered with eight straight to even the score. For the next 11 minutes, neither team led by more than one possession. The Phoenix surged ahead 60-56 at the line and built the cushion to six with 5:40 remaining, later extending it to nine. Iona mounted a late push, pulling within one with just over a minute left. A strong defensive sequence nearly forced a stop, but a blocked shot caromed to Green Bay's Mac Wrecke, who drew a foul and sank two free throws to restore a three-point edge, and the Phoenix held on for the five-point win.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Sabally delivered his second double-double of the season, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds while also contributing two assists and two blocks.
- Harris provided 13 points and six boards, knocking down three shots from beyond the arc and adding a block.
- Graduate Luke Jungers continued his efficient scoring with 11 points for the second straight game, hitting 4-of-5 from the field and 3-of-4 from deep.
- Graduate CJ Anthony filled the stat sheet again, totaling 10 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
- Graduate Keshawn Williams added 10 points of his own along with four rebounds and three assists to round out Iona's double-figure scorers.
- Freshman Alliou Fall posted a season-best eight points and had seven rebounds in his second collegiate start.
THE OPPONENT
- Justin Allen paced all scorers with 28 points, shooting 8-of-16 from the floor and converting eight free throws.
- C.J. O'Hara supplied 17 points and six rebounds.
- Mac Wrecke provided a spark off the bench with 14 points, including the late free throws that helped sealed the game.
- Caden Wilkins added 10 points and led the Phoenix with nine rebounds.
- Preston Ruedinger chipped in nine points and had seven assists.
TEAM STATISTICS
- Iona held slight shooting advantages at 40.3% to 39.1% overall and 39.3% to 35.7% from three, connecting on 11 triples to Green Bay's 10.
- The Gaels earned a 42-39 edge on the glass, though Green Bay posted a narrow 13-12 advantage in offensive rebounds and a 20-13 margin in second-chance points.
- Iona assisted on 15 baskets with just eight turnovers, while the Phoenix tallied 14 assists against only five giveaways.
UP NEXT
Iona returns to the Northeast and, following the Thanksgiving break, wraps up its four-game stretch away from New Rochelle with a Monday, Dec. 1 matchup at Delaware.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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