RIVERDALE, NY – The Iona University men's basketball team capped its regular season with a 69-65 victory over archrival Manhattan in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action Sunday at Draddy Gymnasium. Four players reached double figures, led by 16 points from graduate
CJ Anthony and a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double off the bench by sophomore
Khalil Badru.
Already locked into the No. 8 seed for this week's MAAC Championship, the Maroon & Gold finalized its opening-round matchup and will face No. 9 Sacred Heart at 6 p.m. Thursday.
THE RUNDOWN
The margin never reached double digits in a game that featured five lead changes before intermission. Manhattan struck first, scoring five points in the opening 29 seconds on a Terrance Jones three and a steal and free throws from Jaden Winston.
The first lead change came at the 13:06 mark when junior
Matt Reed converted a second-chance opportunity to put the visitors ahead 10-9. Junior
Kosy Akametu followed just over two minutes later with a wing three that gave Iona a 16-13 edge, a lead it would not relinquish. The Gaels closed the half on a 5-0 run and held Manhattan scoreless over the final 3:12 to take a nine-point advantage into the break.
The Jaspers trimmed the deficit to one possession several times in the second half but were unable to draw even. With the margin at three at 16:42, back-to-back three-pointers from Akametu and graduate
Luke Jungers stretched the lead to 44-35.
After a Manhattan surge cut it to 51-49, the contest stayed within two possessions the rest of the way. Down six with 12 seconds remaining, Devin Dinkins buried a three to make it 68-65. Anthony calmly sank a free throw in the closing seconds to seal the rivalry win.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Anthony paced the offense with 16 points while adding six assists and four rebounds, directing the attack throughout.
- Akametu delivered 15 points and eight rebounds, shooting 3 for 6 from inside the arc and 3 for 6 from long range.
- Jungers contributed 13 points, two rebounds and two steals, connecting on four of his six attempts from distance.
- Badru recorded his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds in a strong effort off the bench.
- Reed supplied a season-high eight points and six boards in 15 minutes of reserve action.
- The Gaels were without starters Denver Anglin and Lamin Sabally, who rested minor injuries in preparation for postseason play.
THE OPPONENT
- Terrance Jones scored a game-high 23 points to go with four rebounds and four steals.
- Anthony Isaac added 12 points and three rebounds.
- Fraser Roxburgh finished with 11 points and seven boards.
- Jaden Winston filled the stat sheet with 10 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and five steals.
TEAM STATS
- Iona shot 41.8 percent from the field to Manhattan's 32.8 percent and made nine three-pointers while holding the Jaspers to 26.9 percent from beyond the arc.
- The Maroon & Gold controlled the glass, 48-34, including a 14-10 edge in offensive rebounds that translated into a 16-7 advantage in second-chance points.
- The Gaels recorded 13 assists but committed 23 turnovers. Manhattan turned 12 Iona miscues into an 18-5 edge in points off turnovers.
- In a 75-possession game, the defensive efficiency stood at .867. It marked the team's best road defensive effort of the season and improved its record to 5-0 when holding opponents under .880. Over the past 16 seasons, the program is now 74-1 in such games, including 20-0 on the road.
UP NEXT
The No. 8 seeded Gaels open the 2026 MAAC Men's Basketball Championship against No. 9 Sacred Heart on Thursday, March 5 at 6 p.m. at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
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