Iona Advances To Semifinal Round With 94-71 Win
MAAC Sports
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Tre Bowman scored 28 points and Sean Armand added 20 as No. 1 seed Iona defeated No. 8 seed Rider 94-71 in the first quarterfinal round game of the 2014 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Championship at the Mass Mutual Center.
Iona advances to the semifinal round on Sunday and will play Canisius, which defeated Siena 71-65 in the day's second quarterfinal round game.
Iona had the hot hand throughout the game, sinking 59.6% from the floor (31-of-52). The Gaels, who lead the nation in three-point field goals made per game (10.45), were 11-of-25 (.40%) from long range against the Broncs.
Iona got out to an early 15-4 lead as Bowman hit a pair of three-point field goals, and then 20-9 before Rider mounted a rally to cut the lead to 20-16. Iona outscored the Broncs 30-18 over the final 9:54 of the first half and held a 50-34 lead at halftime.
Iona (21-9) opened the second half by outscoring Rider 8-4 to grab its first 20-point lead of the game, 58-38, with 17:15 left. The Broncs were able to cut the Iona lead in half, 60-50, with 14:30 left after a Daniel Stewart steal and driving layup. Anthony Myles sparked Rider’s 12-2 run with five points.
But Iona retaliated by outscoring the Broncs 34-21 the remainder of the game to secure the victory. The Gaels led by as many as 25 points on two occasions in the final minutes.
David Laury added 18 points and 11 rebounds and Isaiah Willams contributed 12 points for the Gaels.
Myles, a senior guard, scored 19 points in his final game for the Broncs. Daniel Stewart, also playing his final game for Rider, scored 12 points and had seven rebounds. Freshman guard Jimmie Taylor contributed 14 for the Broncs (14-17).