Game #19: Iona Gaels @ Manhattan Jaspers
Friday, January 31, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Draddy Gymnasium | Riverdale, NY
Watch: https://bit.ly/3WDLSQm
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RIVERDALE, N.Y. — It's the calm before the storm leading up to Friday's highly-anticipated meeting between Manhattan and long-time rivals Iona (8-12, 5-4 MAAC). Both programs will take the same court for the first time in 325 days, hearkening back to the first round match-up in the 7/10 game last season in Atlantic City which saw the No.7-seeded Gaels emerge with a hard-fought 60-57 victory over the No. 10-seeded Jaspers. In 2023-24, the Gaels won the season series, 2-1, but it was the Jaspers who owned the biggest margin of victory with a 77-60 triumph at Draddy Gymnasium on March 7. The three-episode saga was the first instance of the rival programs meeting three times in the same season since the 2017-18 campaigns for both teams. Manhattan enters Friday night's showdown with Iona looking to win its second straight MAAC game for the first time this season. Meanwhile, the Gaels will be looking for its fourth straight victory and will need to do so in hostile territory.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
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Over its last three games, Iona has won all three contests by an average margin of 10.3 points. The 82-61 win over Canisius on January 16 was Iona's largest margin of victory this season, and second biggest in the Tobin Anderson era trailing only the 25-point victory over Buffalo last season.
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Iona added 16 new players this offseason without any returners from the 2023-24 roster.
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Northern Colorado transfer Dejour Reaves paces the Gaels in scoring at 16.1 PPG. The senior guard from Syracuse, New York has a career scoring average of 15.1 PPG to date across two seasons in D1.
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Iona's backcourt was bolstered by the addition of freshman point guard Adam Njie Jr.. The Bronx native is averaging 12 points and 3.6 assists while orchestrating the Gaels offense.
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Iona is a physical team on the boards averaging 37.1 rebounds per game, which ranks third in the MAAC.
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By contrast, the Gaels have struggled to find a groove offensively and are below average in several major offensive categories such as scoring offense (67.9 PPG, 9th), field goal percentage (40.3%, 12th), three-point field goal percentage (30.7%, 11th) and free throw percentage (67.4%, 13th).
Last Five Meetings:
Iona Leads All-Time 63-44
3/12/24....................................IONA 60-57
3/07/24...................................MAN 77-60
2/16/24....................................IONA 73-63
2/17/23....................................IONA 71-60
1/20/23....................................IONA 84-76 (OT)
COACHES VS. CANCER
Friday night is Manhattan Basketball's Coaches vs. Cancer Game. The Coaches vs. Cancer initiative dates back over 30 years in college basketball and is forged by a strong spirit of collaboration between the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society. This week's slate of games around the country are enhanced by Suits and Sneakers Week (Jan. 27 - Feb. 2, 2025), inspiring a special sneaker selection among the coaches and a specially chosen suit for the head coach as symbols of unity in supporting everyone impacted by cancer.
Manhattan head coach John Gallagher is one of 61 current or former coaches who comprise the Coaches vs. Cancer Council which was formed in 1998. The current Chairman of the Coaches vs. Cancer Council is Illinois men's basketball head coach Brad Underwood.
PARKING
Those planning on attending Friday night's game vs. Iona are advised to park in the Manhattan University Parking Garage located just beyond the opening stretch of Manhattan College Pkwy closest to Broadway. Garage parking is free admission and shuttle services will run from the entrance way of the garage up to Draddy Gym starting at 5:30 PM. Return shuttles will be available after the conclusion of the game.
Follow Manhattan Basketball on X @JaspersMBB and on Instagram @jaspers.mbb.