NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona University men's basketball team earned a hard-fought 72-64 overtime victory over second-place Saint Peter's in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action Friday night at the Hynes Center. The win secured the final berth into the 2026 MAAC Championship in Atlantic City and avenged an earlier season setback to the Peacocks. With three games remaining, tournament seeding remains in play.
Graduate
CJ Anthony and junior
Kosy Akametu each scored 18 points to pace the effort, while graduate
Lamin Sabally controlled the interior with a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double.
THE RUNDOWN
Saint Peter's came out sharp, building an early 8-2 advantage behind efficient shooting from the perimeter. That margin stood as the largest of the night for the visitors. The home side answered with composure, using a
Toby Harris three-pointer to spark a 25-9 run that produced a 27-17 lead with just over six minutes remaining in the first half.
Momentum shifted late in the period as the Peacocks strung together 12 consecutive points to move back in front. A tightly contested closing stretch sent Saint Peter's into the locker room with a 31-29 edge.
Out of halftime, Saint Peter's stretched the lead to six before another Harris triple ignited an 11-0 surge. Iona regained control and pushed the advantage to seven midway through the second half. The contest remained within two possessions the rest of regulation. After the Peacocks briefly took a 54-52 lead with 5:15 to play, Akametu delivered at the line and Anthony knocked down a key three-pointer to swing momentum back. Saint Peter's forced overtime at 61-61 with late free throws.
In the extra session, the Gaels scored the first six points and limited Saint Peter's to one field goal. Rookie
Alliou Fall supplied the defining moment, converting a three-point play on a tip-in with 2:16 remaining to extend the lead to 70-64 and seal the outcome.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Anthony scored 18 points on 7-for-14 shooting with two three-pointers. He added five steals, four rebounds and two assists in a strong two-way performance.
- Akametu matched the team high with 18 points and went 8-for-11 from the free throw line, converting several attempts in critical moments. He grabbed eight rebounds and added a steal and a block.
- Sabally recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 14 points and 15 rebounds while shooting 6-for-11 from the field and anchoring the paint.
- Fall finished with four points, six rebounds and four blocked shots, providing a major defensive presence along with the pivotal late three-point play.
- Harris contributed nine points and posted a game-best plus-19 rating, sparking key runs in both halves.
- Junior Denver Anglin chipped in four points, handed out a team-high five assists and finished plus-12 while directing the offense.
THE OPPONENT
- Brent Bland and Bryce Eaton paced Saint Peter's with 17 points apiece. Bland connected on five three-pointers and added six rebounds and two steals, while Eaton supplied five boards and three assists.
- Zaakir Williamson scored 13 points in 22 minutes despite early foul trouble.
- Jahki Gupton led the Peacocks with nine rebounds, and Elijah Perkins dished out four assists.
TEAM STATS
- Iona shot 40.3 percent from the field compared to 36.4 percent for Saint Peter's and owned a 38-20 advantage in points in the paint.
- The rebounding battle favored the Maroon & Gold, 42-38 overall, including a 16-13 edge in second-chance points.
- Both teams committed 18 turnovers, but Iona converted those into a 23-11 margin in points off giveaways.
- Saint Peter's finished 8-for-30 from three-point range, while the Gaels went 6-for-24 from beyond the arc.
UP NEXT
The regular-season push continues Sunday as the Gaels travel to North Andover, Massachusetts for their first-ever road game at Merrimack. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m., with the matchup streaming live on ESPN+ as postseason positioning remains at stake.
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