NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Several school records were shattered in the Iona College men’s basketball team’s 126-76 victory over Delaware State in non-conference action at the Hynes Center. Rookie guard Schadrac Casimir scored an Iona freshman record 40 points to lead the Gaels in the victory.
Iona set single-game records for points scored (126), three-point field goals made (24) and assists (35). For just the second time in school history, the Gaels won a game by 50-or-more points joining a 100-49 defeat of Pace University, nearly 46 years ago on Dec. 6, 1968. Iona also reached 120 points on the scoreboard for the second time in history, surpassing the 123 scored in an overtime win over then MAAC rival Holy Cross at the Hynes Center, 26 seasons ago on Feb. 21, 1989. The Maroon & Gold surpassed the school record of 18 three-point field goals met twice under head coach Tim Cluess’ watch – at Albany on Nov. 23, 2010 and vs. Liberty in New Rochelle on Dec. 18, 2012. It was four shy of the NCAA record of 28 set by Troy University on Dec. 10, 1994. The Trojans attempted. The assist mark was set less than a year ago against Niagara on Jan. 4, 2014.
Casimir’s scoring total surpassed Gary Springer’s 35 points vs. Wagner at the then named Mulcahy Center on Jan. 13. 1981 and was the eighth 40+ point effort in school history. He shot 11-for-13 from the field, 8-of-9 on three point attempts and 10-of-12 from the line. The eight three-point field goals was also an Iona rookie record, surpassing Gael three-point king Sean Armand’s six, set twice in 2010-11.
Not to be outdone, Casimir was supported by the Maroon & Gold’s veteran “Big Three”, as junior guards A.J. English and Isaiah Williams had 26 points apiece and senior forward David Laury recorded a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double. The quartet combined for 107 of Iona’s 126 points. English had nine assists and seven rebounds while connecting on six trifectas. Williams had five rebounds, five assists, four steals with no turnovers and a career-best seven three pointers. Laury added six assists to hid double-double effort.
Juniors Kelvin Amayo and Ibn Muhammad also played a vital role in the win. Amayo scored six points, but added four assists, three steals and two rebounds. Muhammad had just one field goal but supplied six assists, all resulting in three pointers with just one turnover.
Delaware State was led by a double-double from Kendall Gray with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Amere May had 18 points in 21 minutes off the bench and Tyshawn bell had 13 points in 18 minutes for the Hornets.
The Gaels shot 57.7% from the field, 65.7% from beyond the arc and were 90.9% from the free throw line. They hit a staggering 14-of-20 three-point attempts (70.0%) in the second half. Delaware State was held to 30.7% from the field in the game. Iona out rebounded its guest 43-38 and had 35 assists to just 13 turnovers.
The Maroon & Gold improved to 4-1 on the season and 3-0 in the BD Global Roundball Showcase and take on No. 25 Arkansas Sunday in Fayetteville. Should the Razorbacks top North Texas Friday night, Sunday’s contest will serve as a virtual championship game as a battle of the showcase’s unbeaten teams.
