NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College men’s basketball team withstood a late charge by Saint Peter’s in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Hynes Center. The Gaels held on 64-58 after the Peacocks cut a 21-point deficit to three in the final three minutes of the contest. With the win, the Maroon & Gold moved a half-game ahead of Saint Peter’s and Monmouth for first place in the league with a 7-2 mark.
Senior Isaiah Williams led the Gaels with 19 points and eight rebounds, shooting 6-of-12 from the field, 5-for-11 from downtown and 2-of-3 from the line. Sophomore Deyshonee Much added 17 points including 14 in the first half. He hit his first six shot attempts from the field including five three point field goals. While adding five rebounds, three assists and a steal. Senior A.J. English posted 11 points and eight assists while classmate Ibn Muhammad had eight points in the win.
Saint Peter’s Quadir Welton had a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double to lead the visitors. Rookie Antwon Portley had 12 points while junior Trevis Wyche had 10 points and seven assists off the bench.
Iona raced out to a 14-3 advantage just under seven minutes into the contest following a three-pointer by English. The Gaels’ largest lead of the half came with 2:01 left after Much drained his fourth trifecta of the frame.
After Elisha Boone’s conventional three-point play cut the Saint Peter’s deficit to 10 points at 14:31, Iona went on a 13-2 run over the next 3:24 to open up a 55-34 lead. The Gaels went ice cold offensively, scoring just two points over the next 8:19, shooting 1-for-10 with three turnovers. Welton made the score 57-54 with 2:48 left. Williams came through with a huge three-pointer from the corner to make it a six-point game just 25 seconds later.
Williams and English combined for a 4-for-5 effort from the free throw line in the final minute of the game to hold off the Peacocks.
Iona is back in action Sunday at Fairfield for a 3:30 pm tipoff at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, CT. The game can be seen live in the tristate area on SNY or nationally on ESPN3.