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Iona University Athletics

CJ Anthony
Rich Schultz - Stockton Photo Inc.
73
Hofstra Hof 0-2,0-0 CAA
81
Winner Iona Iona 1-0,0-0 MAAC
Hofstra Hof
0-2,0-0 CAA
73
Final
81
Iona Iona
1-0,0-0 MAAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Hofstra Hof 27 46 73
Iona Iona 44 37 81

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

Iona MBB Kicks Off 2025-26 With Convincing 81-73 Win Over Hofstra

NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona University men's basketball team opened the Dan Geriot era with a wire-to-wire 81-73 victory over metropolitan-area rival Hofstra in non-conference action Friday night at the Hynes Center. Graduate guard CJ Anthony led three Gaels in double figures, scoring a career-high 24 points in his Maroon & Gold debut.

THE RUNDOWN

Iona stormed out to a 23-4 lead less than eight minutes into the contest and never trailed. A 17-0 run pushed the margin to 20-2 following a pair of early Hofstra free throws, and the Pride didn't record their first field goal until the 14:24 mark. The Gaels held their largest first-half lead at 35-12 after a conventional three-point play by junior Kosy Akametu with 5:19 remaining, eventually taking a 44-27 edge into the break.
 
Hofstra trimmed the deficit to 50-41 with 13:52 remaining, but the Gaels responded with seven straight points, punctuated by sophomore Khalil Badru's emphatic put-back dunk just over two minutes later to restore a 16-point cushion. Iona held a double-digit lead until the final minute and secured the eight-point win.

IONA PERFORMERS

  • Anthony powered the Gaels with a career-best 24 points in his Iona debut, doing so on just six field-goal attempts (5-of-6) with four threes; he also went 10-for-13 from the line and added five assists and four rebounds.
  • Akametu finished with a career-high 14 points, 12 of which came in the first half to help build the early cushion; he also pulled down four rebounds and recorded a steal.
  • Senior Lamin Sabally scored 11 points and delivered a highlight-reel baseline dunk in the second half, while leading the team with eight rebounds and adding three steals and four assists.
  • Graduate guard Keshawn Williams chipped in seven points and provided a steady presence in the backcourt during his first game in Maroon & Gold.
  • Junior Denver Anglin contributed across the board with six points, six boards, five assists and two steals while logging valuable minutes.

THE OPPONENT

  • Five Pride players scored in double figures, led by freshman Preston Edmead with 18 points.
  • Former Gaels Biggie Patterson (16), Cruz Davis (13), and Silas Sunday (10) each reached double digits.
  • Victor Onetu contributed 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds off the bench.

TEAM STATS

  • Iona shot 45.0% from the field, holding Hofstra to 44.0% overall and just 32.4% in the first half.
  • Hofstra held a 39-35 advantage on the glass; second-chance points were even at 11-11.
  • Iona recorded 16 assists, eight steals, and 15 turnovers; Hofstra posted 12 assists and 15 turnovers.
  • The Gaels made eight of their nine three-pointers in the opening half.

UP NEXT

Iona hits the road to the Midwest for a Veterans Day matchup at Summit League foe UMKC on Tuesday, November 11, with tip-off scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Be sure to follow Iona University athletics on all social media platforms:
Iona Athletics: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
Iona Men's Basketball: Twitter, Facebook. Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)





 
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