LEWISTON, NY (February 15, 2026) — Niagara University defeated Iona University 70-68 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball Sunday at the Gallagher Center when Justin Hawkins scored the winning basket on a goaltending call with five seconds remaining.
A final Iona attempt to force overtime rimmed out at the horn.
Graduate student Toby Harris led Iona with 18 points. CJ Anthony added 15 points, and Kosy Akametu contributed 12.
The first half featured 10 lead changes and seven ties. Niagara took a 34-30 lead into halftime.
Niagara extended the margin to nine early in the second half. Iona responded with a 16-0 run to take a 53-48 lead with 7:30 remaining. The Purple Eagles answered with a 17-4 surge to go ahead 62-57.
Iona regained the lead at 66-64 on a three-point play by Akametu with 2:14 left. The teams traded free throws before the decisive sequence.
Brian Griffith paced Niagara with 17 points. Vice Zanki scored 12, Trenton Walters had 11, and Hawkins finished with eight.
Niagara shot 51.1 percent from the field and made 9 of 18 three-pointers. Iona shot 45.1 percent and hit 9 of 30 from beyond the arc. The Gaels held a 32-25 rebounding edge and a 17-2 advantage in second-chance points.
Iona fell to 15-12 overall and 7-9 in the MAAC. Niagara improved to 7-19 overall and 4-12 in conference play.
The Gaels host Saint Peter’s on Feb. 20 and visit Merrimack on Feb. 22.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.