Iona defeats Monmouth; Advances to Third Consecutive Title Game
MAAC Sports
ALBANY, N.Y. – The top-seed Iona College defeated the No. 4 seed Monmouth University, 95-77, behind a record setting three point shooting night in the semifinal round of the MAAC Men’s Basketball Championship at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York. The Gaels advance to their third consecutive championship title game, and fourth in five years.
Isaiah Williams and the Iona men’s basketball team set two MAAC championship records in made three point field goals in a championship game. Williams’ nine three point field goals made, broke the previous record of eight, which was set during the 2002 championship by Jerry Johnson of Rider University. The team as a whole broke a 25 year old league record for made three point field goals with 19. The previous record was held by the 1990 La Salle team which hit 15 trifectas.
In the early goings of the contest, Monmouth took its only lead of the game at the 16:24 mark, off of a Justin Robinson layup making it a 6-5 contest. The Gaels would retake the lead one minute later and push its first half lead to ten, at 25-15. The Hawks would use a 10-2 run, to get back within two points making the contest 27-25 with 6:36 left in the half , but Iona continued its hot shooting and would extend its lead to 57-45 at the half on 11 made threes.
In the second half, Iona would keep connecting on its shooting, pushing leads as high as 18 in the half.
Iona was led by A.J. English who scored 29 points and chipped in on the three point record with his seven made triples. Williams finished the contest with 27 points and Schadrac Casimir chipped in with 16 points and two three pointers.
Monmouth’s Max DiLeo scored a team best 21 points for the Hawks. Deon Jones added 18 and Brice Kofane recorded 10 points and seven rebounds.
Iona moves into the championship title game, which will take place on Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. on ESPN2.
Iona moves into the championship title game, which will take place on Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. on ESPN2. They will face No. 3 Manhattan College.