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Iona University Athletics

CJ Anthony
Will Quincy - Iona Athletics
68
Iona Iona 15-12,7-9 MAAC
70
Winner Niagara Niag 7-19,4-12 MAAC
Iona Iona
15-12,7-9 MAAC
68
Final
70
Niagara Niag
7-19,4-12 MAAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Iona Iona 30 38 68
Niagara Niag 34 36 70

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

Iona MBB Falls 70-68 in Tight Battle at Niagara

LEWISTON, NY – The Iona University men's basketball team suffered a 70-68 setback at Niagara University in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action Sunday afternoon at the Gallagher Center. The Purple Eagles converted the decisive basket with five seconds remaining following a goaltending call, and a last-second look from the Gaels to force overtime rimmed out. Graduate Toby Harris paced three double-figure scorers with 18 points.

THE RUNDOWN

A deliberate opening 10 minutes featured just 24 combined points and a 12-12 deadlock. Neither side led by more than four in a first half that included 10 lead changes and seven ties. Niagara closed the stanza on a 22-18 surge over the final 10 minutes to carry a 34-30 advantage into intermission.
 
The hosts pushed the margin to nine less than five minutes into the second half, taking a 43-34 lead following a conventional three-point play by Landon Williams at the 15:12 mark. Facing an eight-point deficit with 12:31 remaining, Iona answered emphatically. The visitors strung together a 16-0 run over 5:01 to seize a 53-48 lead with 7:30 to play. During the stretch, the Maroon & Gold shot 5-for-7 from the field, knocked down two three-pointers, went 4-for-4 at the line and committed no turnovers. Defensively, Niagara was limited to 0-for-5 shooting with two giveaways.
 
Niagara responded with a 17-4 burst over the next 3:36 to reclaim control at 62-57 with 3:52 left. The Purple Eagles converted all five field goal attempts, including two from long range, and added five free throws. Iona countered with a 9-2 run and moved in front 66-64 with 2:14 to go after a three-point play by junior Kosy Akametu.
 
The teams traded free throws down the stretch, setting the score at 68-68 inside the final 40 seconds. The Gaels were whistled for a charge on a possession that could have produced the go-ahead basket. Moments later, Justin Hawkins finished at the rim, with a goaltending call awarding the deciding points. Graduate CJ Anthony found space along the baseline for a 12-foot look at the horn, but the attempt rolled off as Niagara escaped with the win.
 

IONA PERFORMERS

  • Harris poured in 18 points, 12 coming after halftime. He shot 7-for-12 from the floor and 4-for-9 from three, adding two rebounds and a steal.
  • Anthony contributed 15 points on 5-for-9 shooting with two triples. He filled the stat sheet with five rebounds, four assists and three steals.
  • Akametu finished with 12 points, including 10 in the second half, and chipped in three rebounds and an assist.
  • Graduate Lamin Sabally recorded eight points, seven rebounds and three assists.
  • Graduate Luke Jungers supplied seven points off the bench to bolster the scoring effort.

THE OPPONENT

  • Brian Griffith led Niagara with 17 points, 11 after the break. He was perfect from beyond the arc at 3-for-3 and handed out three assists.
  • Vice Zanki added 12 points, connecting twice from three-point range.
  • Trenton Walters tallied 11 points and went 5-for-6 at the free throw line.
  • Justin Hawkins finished with eight points, including the decisive basket in the closing seconds.

TEAM STATISTICS

  • Niagara shot 51.1 percent from the field compared to 45.1 percent for Iona, aided by a 57.1 percent effort in the second half.
  • The Purple Eagles were 9-for-18 from three-point range, while the Gaels connected on 9-of-30 attempts.
  • Iona owned a 32-25 edge on the glass, including an 11-4 advantage in offensive rebounds that translated into a 17-2 margin in second-chance points.
  • Niagara held a slight 15-14 edge in assists. Both teams committed seven turnovers, with the Gaels converting those miscues into an 11-8 advantage in points off turnovers.

UP NEXT

The Gaels return home to face second-place Saint Peter's at the Hynes Center on Friday night, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. Iona then travels to meet first-place Merrimack on Sunday, Feb. 22, for a 1 p.m. contest in North Andover, Massachusetts. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.

FOLLOW THE GAELS

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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