Iona exacts revenge, throttles Manhattan for third straight win

Tajuan Agee powered Iona past Manhattan after Gaels lost to Jaspers by 23 less than two weeks ago. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Twelve days ago, after being defeated by Manhattan for the first time since 2015, questions arose as to whether Iona’s uncharacteristically mediocre season had reached its nadir.

Since that 23-point loss to the Jaspers on February 2, the ensuing 120 minutes of basketball have more closely resembled the status quo.

On the heels of two dominating road wins in Connecticut against the likes of Quinnipiac and Fairfield, the Gaels once again looked the part of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference powerhouse for which they have come to be known, firing the first salvo against their local rival 15 minutes to the southwest and not once letting up in an 80-57 obliteration of the Jaspers.

“This game was personal for us,” Tajuan Agee declared as Iona (8-12, 6-7 MAAC) erased the lingering aftertaste of a listless 72-49 showing at Draddy Gymnasium by securing its third consecutive victory to remain just two games behind MAAC leader Saint Peter’s in the loss column. “After that game, we talked about that. This next game against them is personal, and I think we sent a message today that we’re back.”

“After that game, we had some meetings and talks about where we’re at and how hard we have to play each time,” acting head coach Tra Arnold added, citing the resurgence that followed since the loss to Manhattan. “Our backs were against the wall — they still are — and that’s how we’re going to play the rest of the season.”

The Gaels, playing at home for the first time since losing to Siena on January 31, jumped on the accelerator early in a game-opening 11-2 run, making 11 of their first 15 field goal attempts and feasting on the inefficiency of Manhattan's offense, making the visitors pay for any errant shot or missed free throw, the latter of which added up as the night went on.

“Hats off to Iona,” Steve Masiello assessed as the Jaspers (11-11, 7-6 MAAC) saw their three-game win streak halted just hours after he received a three-year contract extension. “I thought they were ready for us, we weren’t. I thought they came out ready and did what they needed to do. Tonight, they were the better team.”

For the victorious hosts, Agee — who took advantage of Pauly Paulicap and Warren Williams being unable to assert themselves and impose their will in the paint, amassed 16 points, six rebounds and five assists, while E.J. Crawford led all scorers with 21 markers, supplementing his offense with seven assists and six rebounds in an all-around effort from the senior swingman. Isaiah Washington also continued his consistent spate of late, pouring in 14 points from the backcourt.

Iona now has a favorable conclusion to the regular season, and enters Sunday’s contest against Marist with a chance to even its MAAC record, an opportunity most thought would be improbable given both the start to league play and the absence of Tim Cluess as the Gaels’ skipper has tended to his health matters during the year. However, the timely hot streak has drawn a parallel to last season’s phoenix-like rise from the ashes, when Iona came from 7-15 and 5-6 in conference games to win its final seven regular season affairs before claiming an unprecedented fourth straight MAAC championship with three tournament wins. When asked if this current roll portends a similar drive to glory, Agee was quick to recollect the fortuitous stretch one year prior.

“We had this same conversation last year, and I have the same reaction,” he astutely observed. “I think that we could be scary if we continue to get better and continue to fight every game. I think we’ll be back where we’re supposed to be.”