Box Score Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) | Highlights | Highlights (MAAC)
Sights & Sounds (1495 Sports) | Postgame Press Conference
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - A.J. English's tiebreaking three pointer with 25.3 seconds to play lifted Iona to a 70-67 win over Manhattan in front of a capacity crowd (2,520) at Draddy Gymnasium as well as a nationally televised ESPNU audience.
In defeat, senior Emmy Andujar (Bronx, N.Y. / Rice) had a team-leading 17 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Junior Ashton Pankey (Bronx, N.Y. / Maryland) added 16 points while junior Shane Richards (New York, N.Y. / York Prep) chipped in with 12.
The Gaels improved to 20-6 and 13-2 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) while the Jaspers fall to 12-12 and 9-6 in the league.
After English's aforementioned three pointer put the visitors up three, Andujar hit a pair of free throws with just over seven seconds remaining while cutting the deficit to 68-67. David Laury answered with a pair from the line while pushing the lead back out to three at 70-67. Manhattan had one final chance to force overtime but Zane Waterman's (Fr., Winston-Salem, N.C. / Fayetteville Academy) last-second three-point attempt was off the mark while allowing Iona to escape with the victory.
English and Schadrac Casmir each scored a game-high 22 points to lead all players while helping the Gaels to their seventh-straight win.
Iona jumped out to an early 9-2 lead and held a 26-15 advantage with just over 10 minutes to play until halftime when the Jaspers made their first big push of the game.
Andujar got things going with layup off a pass from Richards before sophomore Tyler Wilson (Bronx, N.Y. / Cardinal Hayes) hit a jumper following a Gael turnover. Manhattan then again took advantage of a pair of Iona miscues as Sophomore Jermaine Lawrence (Queens, N.Y. / Cincinnati) hit a layup and classmate Carlton Allen (Ewing, N.J. / Life Center Academy) tipped in an errant shot to trim the deficit to three. Andujar then capped the Jaspers' 11-0 spurt with an old-fashioned three-point play to tie it up at 26-26 with 6:46 until intermission as the final nine points of the spurt came off of turnovers.
Casmir quickly reclaimed the lead for the visitors just nine seconds later with a three pointer while kickstarting a half-ending 11-4 run that staked the Gaels to a 37-30 halftime advantage.
After halftime, Iona's lead grew to a game-high 12 at 44-32 with just over 15 minutes to paly before Richards answered with a quitck triple. Manhattan then methodically began cuting into the deficit before ripping off 10-straight points in just under three minutes to take its first lead at 52-51 with 9:16 to play following a Richards' three pointer.
Unfortunately, the lead the Jaspers fought all night for would hold for only six seconds as Casmir knocked down a three pointer just six seconds later as the Gaels would not trail again the rest of the night.
However, the game would not be without drama as Iona opened up a six-point lead only to see Manhattan again rally to tie it up on an Andujar layup while setting the stage for a thrilling final minute.
Wilson had a big game off the bench, handing out a career-high matching seven assists while Lawrence and senior RaShawn Stores (Bronx, N.Y. / Robinson School (N.J.)) each scored six points.
The Jaspers shot just 39.7 percent (25-of-63) but managed to force 21 Iona miscues that led to a 23-10 advantage in points off turnovers. Unfortunately, the Gaels made good on 52.2 percent (24-of-46) from the floor, including 61.1 percent (11-of-18) from distance.
Manhattan returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 15 against Fairfield with opening tip slated for 2 p.m.
