HAMDEN, CT - The Iona University men's basketball team dropped a 79-74 decision to Quinnipiac in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at M&T Bank Arena. The Bobcats held off a late Gael charge as the contest was played within two possessions for all but five seconds in the final minute. Senior
Dejour Reaves led four double-digit scorers with 15 points while adding a team-best, six rebounds and six steals in the loss.
THE RUNDOWN
Iona's largest lead of the first half came after its first possession with
Luke Jungers draining a corner three. Quinnipiac led by five points for just two possessions. The rest of the half stayed within three points and featured 15 lead changes and four tie scores.
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Rookie
Adam Njie Jr. hit a three with 13:48 to play to give Iona a 48-43 advantage, its largest of the game. Quinnipiac answered with back-to-back buckets, sandwiching a defensive stop to cut it to 48-47 and took a lead with another field goal with 11:49 left. Down four with 7:45 to play, Jungers and freshman
Justin Menard hit back-to-back three pointers to give Iona the lead at 60-58 at 6:40. After a Bobcat basket and a Menard free throw the Gaels led 61-60 at the 5:49 mark. Quinnipiac answered with five straight to regain a lead it would not relinquish.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Reaves posted 15 points with six rebounds, four assists, six steals and a block. He was 7-for-17 from the field in 37 minutes.
- Menard added 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting with two three pointers and three free throws.
- Jungers recorded 12 points with two long distance connections, three steals and two blocks.
- Njie Jr. had 11 points, five boards and a team-best five assists.
- Senior Clarence Rupert added seven points, five rebounds and three assists.
THE OPPONENT
- Amarri Monroe led the Bobcats with 20 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 8-for-11 from the field.
- Jaden Zimmerman had 16 points and five boards.
- Doug Young added 15 points while Paul Otieno posted 14 points and nine rebounds.
- Savion Lewis led Quinnipiac with six assists.
TEAM STATS
- Quinnipiac out shot Iona 53.3%-43.1%. The Gaels connected on a season-high 11 three pointers.
- The Bobcats out rebounded the visitors 38-22 and 9-5 on the offensive glass and held a 20-5 advantage on second chance points.
- Iona had 15 assists to 13 turnovers while Quinnipiac posted 17 assists and 21 giveaways. Iona led 15-13 on points off turnovers.
UP NEXT
Iona hosts two huge games next weekend at the Hynes Center, welcoming Manhattan on Friday (Feb. 21) and Merrimack on Sunday (Feb. 23). Tip-off for the Gaels and Jaspers is at 7 p.m. in a nationally televised broadcast on ESPNU.
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)