NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College men’s basketball led wire to wire in a 70-56 victory over archrival Manhattan in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action in front of a capacity crowd at the Hynes Center. Four Gaels recorded double-figures and a fifth posted nine points in the win.
Seniors Ibn Muhammad and Isaiah Williams each had 15 points for the Maroon & Gold. Muhammad set a new career-high scoring output, shooting 6-of-9 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. He added three assists with no turnovers and a steal. Williams had a team best eight boards while also posting three assists and a steal. Junior Jordan Washington scored 13 points in just 14 minutes of play due to foul trouble. He shot 4-for-6 from the field and 5-of-7 from the charity stripe. Freshman Jahaad Proctor had 10 points off the bench while sophomore Deyshonee Much posted nine. The MAAC’s leading scorer, senior A.J. English, was held under 10 points for the first time on the season. He had four points, but contributed six rebounds, and a team-high six assists and two steals.
The Gaels shot an even 50.0% from the field and held Manhattan to just 35.6%. Iona also held a 32-29 advantage on the boards and posted 19 points to just 10 turnovers in the win.
Manhattan junior Rich Williams had 16 points and five boards; while sophomore Zane Waterman added 13 and senior Shane Richards had 11 for the visitors.
Iona jumped out to an early 12-2 advantage just 5:36 in after a wide open Muhammad three-ball from the wing. The Jaspers would not get closer than six points the remainder of the half. The Gaels largest lead of the frame was 14 on two separate occasions. Following a transition layup by Proctor with 2:41 to play and a Much jumper with 85 ticks left.
Muhammad’s second trifecta of the contest gave Iona a 15-point advantage with 11:05 to play. Manhattan scored eight straight in a 2:29 span to cut it to 52-45. The Gaels answered with a 12-1 run of their own over 3:23. Two Washington free throws gave the home team its largest advantage of the game, 65-46 with just under five minutes remaining.
The Gaels begin a pivotal stretch of their schedule, with six of their next eight contests away from the Hynes Center. The road trip begins with a three-game stretch at Saint Peter’s (Feb. 1), Canisius (Feb. 5) and Niagara (Feb. 7) before returning home in 15 days. Iona takes on the Peacocks Monday at 7:00 pm on Iona Insider.