NEW ROCHELLE, NY - A step-back jumper by Merrimack's Adam Clark with 4.5 seconds left forced overtime and the visitors held off the Iona University men's basketball team in the extra frame in a 77-70 Gael loss in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Hynes Center. The Warriors converted 12 of 16 free throws in overtime to earn the win.
THE RUNDOWN
It was a one possession game for nearly the entire first half. Iona took a six-point advantage at 9-3 just over three minutes into the contest on junior
Luke Jungers first of five three pointers on the day. Merrimack answered with six in a row over the next two-plus minutes to knot the score at 6-6 the first of three tie scorers in the period. The Gaels gained a 19-14 advantage with 7:05 to play after sophomore
Comeh Emuobor capped a 5-0 run on a steal and breakaway dunk. The first of eight lead changes in the final six minutes of the frame came a minute later following back-to-back Warrior three-pointers. Senior
Dejour Reaves three-pointer with 51 seconds left made the halftime margin 33-29.
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Iona earned its largest lead of the contest on a Jungers' three ball at 16:52 that made the score 40-32. Facing a seven-point deficit with 14:51 to play, Merrimack scored eight of the next 10 points over a 2:30 span to cut it to one. Another Jungers' three with 2:07 left made put Iona ahead 56-49 with 2:07 left. After Clark and Reaves traded buckets to maintain the Maroon & Gold's advantage with 1:30 left. Clark hit two free throws to cut it to five and following a Gaels' turnover, Devon Savage hit a three-pointer to cut it to two with 42 seconds left. Reaves converted both free throw attempts the other way and Clark answered again to make it 60-58 Iona with 23 seconds left. Iona was unable to convert the ensuing free throws setting up the game-tying effort by Clark to send it to overtime.
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In the extra period, Bryan Etumnu drew first blood for the Warriors with a three-pointer off an offensive rebound. After a defensive stop, Savage hit two free throws to make it a five-point advantage that Iona could not overcome. Iona got within three points with 3:32 to play on senior
Clarence Rupert's bucket but would not get any closer in the team's first home overtime loss since 2013.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Reaves led the Gaels with 26 points, shooting 10-for-23 from the field with three three-pointers.
- A game after scoring a career-best 12 vs. Manhattan, Emuobor exploded for 20 points with nine rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
- Jungers had 15 points on a 5-for-11 shooting effort, all from beyond the arc. He added four assists.
- Rupert posted three points but grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out four assists.
- Senior Jalen Barr posted three points and nine rebounds.
- Rookie Justin Menard led with six points.
- The Gaels played without the availability of junior Yaphet Moundi due to illness and junior Christian Winborne and freshman Adam Njie Jr. due to injury.
THE OPPONENT
- Clark had a game-high 27 points. He had 17 in the second half and five in overtime. Clark added eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
- Savage and Tye Dorset each added 12 points.
- Etumnu posted seven points and a team-best nine rebounds.
TEAM STATS
- Merrimack out shot Iona 44.6%-35.7% overall. The Warriors were 19-for-28 (67.9%) from the line while the Gaels were 9-for-13 (69.2%). Iona also had an 11-8 advantage on made threes.
- The Gaels out rebounded the Warriors 45-32 and 23-11 on the offensive glass. They held a 16-11 lead on second chance points.
- Merrimack posted 17 assists and 12 turnovers while Iona posted 19 assists and 17 giveaways. It also led the home team 21-12 on points off turnovers.
UP NEXT
The Gaels travel to Niagara and Canisius next weekend in its annual Western New York swing. Iona takes on the Purple Eagles Friday and Canisius Sunday.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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