Iona outguns Manhattan, stays perfect in MAAC

Tyson Jolly led Iona with 16 points, including dagger 3-pointer in second half to pull Gaels past Manhattan. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Following three straight close calls, Dylan van Eyck reiterated the main objectives he and his Iona teammates had for the remainder of the year Friday.

It took all of six seconds to remind those gathered at the Hynes Athletics Center.

Scoring almost immediately following the opening tip, Iona put to rest the struggles against the likes of Marist, Saint Louis and Fairfield by scoring a convincing wire-to-wire win over archrival Manhattan, downing the Jaspers in an 88-76 runaway whose final margin masks in respectability the dominance the hosts had in the latest clash between Rick Pitino and his former assistant, Steve Masiello.

“We have certain goals this year, trying to go undefeated (in MAAC play), trying to make national noise,” van Eyck remarked as his 11 points off the bench helped the Gaels (13-3, 5-0 MAAC) further an already stellar resume with grand aspirations by outplaying a Manhattan team in its first action since a COVID pause shortly before the new year. “We definitely feel, as a team, that we could have played better, but there were some mishaps.”

“We did some good things offensively against a very good defensive team,” Pitino revealed, before lamenting his team’s 21-for-38 effort at the foul line. “We cut well, we passed well, but we basically had 28 turnovers because missed free throws are like a turnover. So I’m disappointed, although the execution was terrific and the play was outstanding, you can’t win three games in March shooting free throws like that.”

Iona’s ball sharing and efficient shooting were on another level against Manhattan’s patented pressure defense, striking first off the tip as Elijah Joiner’s layup opened the proceedings and set the tone for a 61 percent performance from the floor while also connecting for 22 assists on 29 made field goals as the Jaspers were unable to string consistency together against the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference favorite.

“When you see these percentages — 56 in the first half, 68 in the second half — that’s Elijah Joiner and that’s the guards moving the basketball,” Pitino remarked. “Against a team like Manhattan, you don’t see these types of numbers, so that’s really, really good.”

“I was really worried about the first four minutes, coming off the layoff that we had,” Masiello conceded as Manhattan (8-4, 1-2 MAAC) saw its first action since December 21 in a matchup that pitted the Jasper coach against his mentor, Pitino, with whom he spent six years on staff at Louisville and played for at the University of Kentucky. “I was really concerned, but what I didn’t prepare for, what I didn’t think would happen, is we allowed them to shoot 61 percent. And that’s on me. We tried to simulate that in practice, but obviously, game speed is a little different and I thought that showed.”

With Nelly Junior Joseph in foul trouble most of the evening — a grand total of 59 fouls were called in a physical affair — Iona was able to get Osborn Shema and Trey James involved more than usual, adding to the full complement of talent that has positioned the Gaels as a legitimate at-large contender in the NCAA Tournament, and at the same time, showcase the athleticism and floor spacing that has proven to be an unstoppable combination for MAAC opponents this season.

“We have so many weapons on this team,” van Eyck assessed. “We’ve had games where Quinn (Slazinski) went off, where I had a good game, where Walter (Clayton) had a great game. Yes, Nelly is one of our best players, but we have so many weapons that it doesn’t really matter who goes off as long as the team wins.”