MAAC Monday: Iona/Marist recap, stat leaders, power rankings

Tyson Jolly’s go-ahead dunk late in second half lifted Iona ahead of Marist to stay as Gaels remained unbeaten in MAAC. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

With COVID protocols shelving more than half the league, only two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games were played this week as just four teams escaped the setback of a positive test among Tier 1 personnel. Quinnipiac defeated Niagara Friday in the curtain-dropper of 2021, as the Bobcats improved to 2-1 in league play, and in the affair that serves as this week’s spotlight before a refresh of the MAAC’s leaders and power rankings, Iona overcame a scrappy Marist team for the second time this season to earn a sweep of the Red Foxes, but not before being taken to the wire by a team that will be a tough out in Atlantic City.

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Iona will win many games in many ways this season. Some may be attributed to offense, others to coaching, and on days like Sunday, victory may be chalked up to fortitude.

Trailing by six points with four minutes to play, the Gaels dug in and forced Marist into a slew of uncharacteristic defensive breakdowns on the way to a game-ending 11-2 run and 69-66 victory over the Red Foxes at the Hynes Athletics Center, the second time this year Iona snatched triumph from the jaws of defeat in the final stages of regulation against Marist.

At 11-2 on the year and a perfect 3-0 in MAAC action, several facets of Iona’s play are attractive to fan and insider alike, but it is the Gaels’ ability to shine brightest when pressure ramps up on them that could be the most powerful tool in the arsenal of Rick Pitino and his young pupils.

“I feel like we’ve always got more in the tank,” said Tyson Jolly, whose go-ahead dunk with 2:23 remaining in regulation put Iona ahead for good, 65-64 at that juncture. “We work so hard every day and we believe in each other. If we stay confident and believe we can win, don’t get down on each other and ourselves, I feel like we’re always going to have a chance to be in the game until the game is over.”

“I think that’s what a good schedule does for you,” Pitino added, citing the arduous non-league slate he designed for the Gaels, headlined by a Thanksgiving night upset of Alabama in the ESPN Events Invitational. “When you play in those games and every game’s a war, you know what to expect. We’ve been battle-tested because of the schedule. We know who we are, and it’s only going to get better.”

Across the floor, Marist, who was felled by Iona’s barrage of 3-point shots in the first meeting between the schools in Poughkeepsie on December 1, held the Gaels to just 3-for-22 from behind the line, yet was unable to close the game out. Regardless, the progression from the Red Foxes was on tangible display Sunday afternoon.

Despite second close loss to Iona this season, John Dunne remains confident in Marist's ability to be MAAC contenders. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

“We’ve come a long way as a program, and as long as we can continue to improve, we’ll be right there in March competing,” head coach John Dunne said. “But make no mistake, that doesn’t happen unless you work, and we’ve just got to continue to put the work in. We’ve made great strides, but we’re not there yet. We can get there, we just have to grow and get better.”

“I think when the season started, it was a little slow for me trying to adjust,” Jao Ituka added with regard to his growth halfway through his freshman season, which included his first career start Sunday. “But I got a lot better and I got more confident, and started to realize that with my physicality and my mindset, I could play with anybody. After today, I know for a fact that no matter who we play, we can compete.”

Scoring Leaders

1) Marcus Hammond, Niagara (17.1 PPG)

2) Malek Green, Canisius (16.5)

3) George Papas, Monmouth (16.3)

4) Matt Balanc, Quinnipiac (16.2)

5) Shavar Reynolds, Monmouth (15.8)

6) Walker Miller, Monmouth (14.9)

7) Tyson Jolly, Iona (14.7)

8) Jose Perez, Manhattan (14.1)

9) Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (14.0)

10) Ricardo Wright, Marist (13.9)

Rebounding Leaders

1) Kevin Marfo, Quinnipiac (11.0 RPG)

2) Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (8.6)

3) Fousseyni Drame, Saint Peter’s (7.7)

4) Supreme Cook, Fairfield (7.6)

5) Malek Green, Canisius (7.4)

T-6) Jackson Stormo, Siena (7.0)

T-6) Dimencio Vaughn, Rider (7.0)

8) Nikkei Rutty, Monmouth (6.8)

9) Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson, Rider (6.8)

10) Walker Miller, Monmouth (6.8)

Assist Leaders

1) Jose Perez, Manhattan (5.6 APG)

2) Kevin Marfo, Quinnipiac (4.1)

3) Dylan van Eyck, Iona (3.9)

4) Ahamadou Fofana, Canisius (3.5)

5) Dwight Murray, Jr., Rider (3.3)

6) George Papas, Monmouth (3.3)

7) Caleb Green, Fairfield (3.2)

T-8) Marcus Hammond, Niagara (2.8)

T-8) Noah Thomasson, Niagara (2.8)

T-10) Jacco Fritz, Canisius (2.8)

T-10) Elijah Joiner, Iona (2.8)

Field Goal Percentage Leaders

1) Josh Roberts, Manhattan (.662)

2) Greg Kuakumensah, Niagara (.638)

3) Dylan van Eyck, Iona (.618)

4) Warren Williams, Manhattan (.583)

5) Jao Ituka, Marist (.580)

6) Jordan Cintron, Niagara (.571)

7) Supreme Cook, Fairfield (.568)

8) Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (.538)

9) Jackson Stormo, Siena (.538)

10) Fousseyni Drame, Saint Peter’s (.516)

Free Throw Percentage Leaders

1) Daryl Banks III, Saint Peter’s (.893)

2) Shavar Reynolds, Monmouth (.887)

3) Doug Edert, Saint Peter’s (.875)

4) George Papas, Monmouth (.860)

5) Walker Miller, Monmouth (.855)

6) Marcus Hammond, Niagara (.851)

T-7) Jordan Cintron, Niagara (.833)

T-7) Samba Diallo, Manhattan (.833)

9) Matt Balanc, Quinnipiac (.818)

10) Quinn Slazinski, Iona (.810)

3-Point Field Goal Percentage Leaders

1) Anthony Nelson, Manhattan (.467)

2) Jaylen Murray, Saint Peter’s (.450)

3) Nick Hopkins, Siena (.439)

4) Colby Rogers, Siena (.438)

5) Matt Balanc, Quinnipiac (.431)

6) Walter Clayton, Iona (.425)

T-7) Zach Crisler, Fairfield (.421)

T-7) Javian McCollum, Siena (.421)

9) Tyson Jolly, Iona (.419)

10) Ricardo Wright, Marist (.410)

Steal Leaders

T-1) Elijah Buchanan, Manhattan (1.9 SPG)

2) Anthony Nelson, Manhattan (1.8)

3) Jordan Cintron, Niagara (1.8)

4) Nick Hopkins, Siena (1.5)

5) Raheim Sullivan, Marist (1.4)

Blocked Shot Leaders

1) KC Ndefo, Saint Peter’s (2.6 BPG)

2) Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (2.1)

3) Josh Roberts, Manhattan (1.4)

T-4) Berrick JeanLouis, Iona (1.2)

T-4) Jordan Jones, Marist (1.2)

Power Rankings

1) Iona (11-2, 3-0 MAAC)

Last Week: 1

Last Game: Sunday 1/2 vs. Marist (W 69-66)

Next Game: Friday 1/7 at Saint Peter’s, 7 p.m.

2) Monmouth (10-3, 2-0 MAAC)

Last Week: 2

Last Game: Wednesday 12/22 vs. Hofstra (L 77-71)

Next Game: Friday 1/7 vs. Siena, 7 p.m.

3) Fairfield (8-5, 2-0 MAAC)

Last Week: 3

Last Game: Thursday 12/23 vs. Wagner (L 63-50)

Next Game: Friday 1/7 vs. Marist, 7 p.m.

4) Quinnipiac (7-4, 2-1 MAAC)

Last Week: 6

Last Game: Friday 12/31 vs. Niagara (W 77-68)

Next Game: Friday 1/7 at Canisius, 7 p.m.

5) Manhattan (8-3, 1-1 MAAC)

Last Week: 4

Last Game: Tuesday 12/21 vs. The Citadel (W 77-74)

Next Game: Friday 1/7 at Rider, 7 p.m.

6) Marist (6-6, 1-2 MAAC)

Last Week: 5

Last Game: Sunday 1/2 at Iona (L 69-66)

Next Game: Friday 1/7 at Fairfield, 7 p.m.

7) Siena (4-6, 1-1 MAAC)

Last Week: 7

Last Game: Saturday 12/11 at Holy Cross (W 72-59)

Next Game: Friday 1/7 at Monmouth, 7 p.m.

8) Saint Peter’s (3-6, 1-1 MAAC)

Last Week: 8

Last Game: Saturday 12/18 at Stony Brook (L 64-63)

Next Game: Friday 1/7 vs. Iona, 7 p.m.

9) Canisius (4-9, 0-2 MAAC)

Last Week: 10

Last Game: Wednesday 12/22 vs. Florida Gulf Coast (W 97-90)

Next Game: Friday 1/7 vs. Quinnipiac, 7 p.m.

10) Rider (4-8, 0-2 MAAC)

Last Week: 11

Last Game: Monday 12/20 vs. Gwynedd-Mercy (W 82-57)

Next Game: Friday 1/7 vs. Manhattan, 7 p.m.

11) Niagara (5-7, 0-3 MAAC)

Last Week: 9

Last Game: Friday 12/31 at Quinnipiac (L 77-68)

Next Game: Sunday 1/9 vs. Quinnipiac, 1 p.m.