PHILADELPHIA, PA — Iona College men’s basketball head coach Tim Cluess became the fourth coach in school history to record 100 career wins in Maroon & Gold in an 81-62 win at Drexel in non-conference action at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. For the second straight game, the Gaels never trailed and had the help of four performers scored in double-figures in the victory.
Junior A.J. English had 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting to lead the Gaels. Senior David Laury posted 17 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in recording his fifth double-double in his last seven appearances. Rookie Schadrac Casimir reached 16 points and had a team-high five assists for his sixth straight double-digit scoring effort. Junior Kelvin Amayo scored all 14 of his points in the second half, with a 6-for-9 effort to go along with three assists and no turnovers in 22 minutes of play. Sophomore Ryden Hines started his second straight game and contributed eight points and a career-high 10 rebounds in the win.
Junior Isaiah Williams buried a three from the wing with 12:55 remaining in the first half to break a 17-17 tie and give the Maroon & Gold the lead for good. Following an English trifecta at 11:14 to put Iona ahead by six, Drexel never got closer than four the rest of the way. Iona scored the final six points of the first half and led 40-29 at the break.
A 9-1 Drexel run midway through the second half got the home team within seven points at 52-45 following two Damion Lee free throws. Iona answered with 10 straight points to go ahead by 17 following Laury’s three-pointer with 9:17 to play. Iona led by double-digits until the final buzzer.
Lee and Tavon Allen each had 18 points to lead the Dragons. Freddie Wilson had six assists and Rodney Williams posted nine rebounds in the loss.
The Gaels complete the 2014 portion of their schedule at Massachusetts in a quick turnaround on Tuesday (Dec. 30) night.