Iona College defeated Marist 87-63 in the MAAC Quarterfinals in Springfield, MA to advance to a semi-final matchup against Fairfield tomorrow at 2 pm.
Iona is the top-seed in the tournament. Fairfield, seeded fourth, defeated Rider 65-63.
Iona earned its seventh MAAC regular season title in program history and first since the 2001. Proficiency during the league schedule has not always translated into success in the championships as only three of Iona’s MAAC-record seven tournament titles have come in year’s the program won the regular season (1985, 1998, and 2001).
Iona, widely expected to get an invite to the big dance, moved up one spot to No. 9 on the Feb. 27 CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 after it’s five straight wins to end the regular season. No. 24 Long Island is the Iona opponent this season on the list. Loyola and Denver are opponents receiving votes on the current poll.
During the regular season, Iona (14-5) is No. 2 in the NCAA (Murray State, 15-0) with 14 wins away from its home building. Three teams have 13 a piece. With its 11-4 record on the road, the Gaels are tied for the third most wins in their opponent’s building (with six teams). Iona has played 63.3% of its games away from home this season. Of the 39 Division I teams that have played at least 60% of its games outside of its home building, the Gaels, hold the highest overall winning percentage and are one of 11 teams with an above .500 overall record.