NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona University men's basketball team dropped a 74-71 decision to Rider in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play at the Hynes Center. Two long scoreless stretches for the Gaels in the second half allowed the Broncs to chip away at their deficit and overcome the home team at the final horn. Four Maroon & Gold performers reached double-digit point totals led by senior
Dejour Reaves game-high 21 points and rookie Adam Njie's first collegiate double-double with 10 points and 12 assists. Juniors
Yaphet Moundi (18 points) and
Luke Jungers (14 points) also contributed on the scoreboard for Iona.
THE RUNDOWN
The Gaels gained their first double-digit advantage of the contest with 6:35 to play in the second half following a Reaves' three-pointer. After a Rider free throw, Reaves hit another three to make the score 32-19 at 6:01 to give the home team its largest lead of the frame. Down 11 a couple of possessions later, Rider scored 10 of 11 points to cut the margin to two points with under two minutes to play. The Gaels answered with a 7-0 run and extended it to 10-3 following Jungers three-pointer as the first half time expired to make it 45-36 at the break.
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Less than four minutes into the second half, Jungers pull up inside the paint put Iona ahead 53-40, regaining the 13-point advantage. The Gaels did not score for nearly seven minutes following the bucket, allowing Rider to pull within two with 10:20 left. At 6:56, Rider took the lead for the first time since early in the first half on a three point play by T.J. Weeks Jr. With the game remaining within one possession for nearly five minutes, Iona took a lead with back-to-back Reaves buckets including a steal and breakaway layup with 1:37 left. The Broncs regained the lead at the foul line, shortly lived following a Njie layup with 59 ticks remaining. The Broncs made enough free throws to hold off a last second, game-tying attempt by the Maroon & Gold.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Reaves' 21 points came on 9-of-17 shooting from the field with three three-pointers. He added four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 36 minutes.
- Moundi shot 9-for-10 from the field to account for his 18 points and grabbed a team-best seven rebounds.
- Jungers was 5-for-9 overall and 4-of-8 from long distance. He posted three rebounds and two blocks.
- Njie Jr. struggled from the field but gritted out 10 points along with his career-best 12 assist effort.
THE OPPONENT
- Zion Cruz led the Broncs with 18 points, with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
- Weeks Jr. posted 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
- Ruben Rodriguez and Tank Byard each had 11 points. Rodriguez posted five assists.
- Tariq Ingraham had 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
IONA PEFORMERS
- Iona out shot Rider 44.6%-42.1%, shooting 9-for-26 from distance to the Broncs' 3-for-11. Iona was 9-for-17 on three-point attempts in the first half and 0-for-9 over the final 20 minutes.
- The Broncs held a decisive edge on the boards, 42-31 including 13-9 on the offensive glass. The Gaels led 14-5 on second chance points.
- The Maroon & Gold had 25 assists on 29 field goals, recording 22 on its first 22 makes. It committed just eight turnovers. Rider posted 16 points and 11 turnovers. Iona also led 18-13 on points off turnovers.
UP NEXT
The Gaels have a quick MAAC weekend turnaround traveling North to take on first-place Quinnipiac at M&T Bank Arena on Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN+
SOCIAL MEDIA
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