ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - The Iona University men's basketball team never trailed in toppling No. 1 seed Quinnipiac 81-73 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference semifinal matchup at Boardwalk Hall. The Gaels advance to their league-record 21st MAAC final tomorrow and seek a record 15th title. Senior
Dejour Reaves scored 23 points, freshman
Adam Njie Jr. had 21, and junior
Yaphet Moundi posted a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double in the win.
THE RUNDOWN
The two teams traded three-pointers on their respective first possessions. Iona surged out of the gate from there, scoring 14 of the next 17 points, including 10 straight, to lead 17-6 with 12:46 left. Reaves' midrange jumper gave the Maroon & Gold its first double-digit advantage of the contest just over seven minutes in. Quinnipiac wouldn't get closer than six points the rest of the frame. Iona led by as many as 14 points with 1:18 remaining following a conventional three-point play by Reaves. After the Bobcats cut it to 10 on their last offensive possession, a half-court heave by Njie rattled home but was ruled to have come just after the period expired, and Iona led 41-31 at the break.
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With Iona ahead 57-47 with 10:24 to play, Quinnipiac went on a 10-0 run to knot the score at 57. The tie was short-lived as
Jalen Barr raced ahead of the pack on the ensuing inbound pass to give Iona a 59-57 advantage. The Bobcats tied the score again a minute later before five straight Iona points gave the Maroon & Gold the lead for good. MAAC Player of the Year Amarri Monroe cut the deficit to two points with 1:46 to play. Iona then scored nine straight, including five from the free throw line, before a Monroe three-pointer with time winding down made the final margin 81-73.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Reaves' 23 points came on 9-of-15 shooting. He added six rebounds, two steals, and a block.
- Njie Jr. scored 21 points, highlighted by a crucial 8-for-8 effort from the charity stripe. He posted six assists and three rebounds.
- Moundi posted his sixth double-double of the year with 17 points and 11 rebounds. He shot 8-for-11 from the field.
- Barr recorded a season-best 11 points while grabbing five rebounds and recording two blocks. Three of his five field goals were emphatic dunks that helped ignite the Gaels.
- Senior Clarence Rupert contributed five points and five rebounds for the Maroon & Gold.
THE OPPONENT
- Monroe led the way with 25 points, shooting 8-for-22 from the field and 3-of-12 from long distance. He had six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
- Jaden Zimmerman did most of his damage in the second half, scoring 17 points.
- Alexis Reyes added 10 points.
- Paul Otieno posted four points with eight rebounds and three blocks.
TEAM STATS
- Iona outshot Quinnipiac 52.5%-40.7%. The Gaels made and attempted a season-low 2-of-10 from long distance, while the Bobcats went 9-for-29.
- The Maroon & Gold held a 38-29 advantage on the boards and a 14-12 edge on the offensive glass, though Quinnipiac outscored them in second-chance points, 15-14.
- Iona had 12 assists and 10 turnovers, while Quinnipiac recorded 14 assists and nine giveaways.
UP NEXT
Iona is 40 minutes away from a potential automatic bid to next week's NCAA Tournament. The Gaels will have to get past No. 6 Mount St. Mary's on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at Boardwalk Hall. The game airs live on ESPNU. The two teams met once this season, with Iona earning a buzzer-beating overtime victory on the road in early February.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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