Iona Hosts MAAC Basketball Doubleheader Saturday on ESPN3
MAAC Sports
Edison, N.J. - Iona College's Hynes Center will be the site for the next MAAC men's and women's basketball doubleheader to be televised this season on Saturday, Feb. 9. Both National MAAC Games of the Week will air live on ESPN3.
The first game of the twin bill will feature a match-up between the women's programs from Rider University and Iona at 4:00 p.m. Rider, 11-11 overall and 6-5 in the MAAC, is led by junior guard/forward MyNeshia McKenzie, who is contributing 13.8 points and a league-high 9.8 rebounds per game, and senior guard Sironda Chambers, who is posting 13.2 points and 4.6 rebounds an outing for the Broncs. Iona, 11-11 overall and 6-5 in the MAAC, is led by sophomore guard Damika Martinez, who is registering conference-best 16.6 points as well as 5.6 rebounds per game, and freshman forward Joy Adams, who is averaging 12.8 points and 9.4 caroms a night for the Gaels.
Game two has the men's teams from Rider and Iona for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. Rider, 13-12 overall and 8-5 in the MAAC, is led by junior guard Anthony Myles, who is averaging 12.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, as well as senior guard Jonathon Thompson, who is contributing 11.8 points and 3.8 caroms an outing for the Broncs. Iona, 14-10 overall and 8-4 in the MAAC, is led by senior guard Lamont Jones, who is averaging a conference-high 22.5 points along with 3.7 assists an outing, and junior guard Sean Armand, who is netting 17.8 points and grabbing 5.5 rebounds a night for the Gaels.
In the first meeting this season on Jan. 20, Tommy Pereira scored 14 points, and Thompson and Daniel Stewart had 13 each as Rider defeated Iona, 67-62. Thompson's free throw with 3:10 remaining put the Broncs ahead to stay, 60-59. Tavon Sledge's layup for Iona had tied the game 59-59, ending a stretch of 5:14 without a field goal for the Gaels. Pereira hit two 3-pointers 14 seconds apart, when Rider erased a 25-14 first-half deficit to lead 35-30 at halftime. Lamont Jones scored 20 points for Iona. Sean Armand added 15, Sledge 14 and David Laury had 17 rebounds.