NEW ROCHELLE, New York – The Marist men's basketball team dropped a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to the Iona Gaels, 69-66, Sunday afternoon at the Hynes Athletic Center. After postponements of the Red Foxes two games against Monmouth and Saint Peter's this past weekend, Marist and Iona moved up its January 21^st rematch date to Sunday.
 

SUMMARY

• After a back-and-forth battle in the first half that featured numerous ties and lead changes, the Red Foxes and Gaels were tied at 31-31.
• Marist would control the action out of the gates in the second half, building up numerous five-point leads and the largest lead of the game at seven early in the half.
• Marist held the lead for thirteen minutes in the second half and led by six after a straight away three from Samkelo Cele with four minutes remaining.
• The Gaels responded with a 9-0 run spanning just over three minutes to take the lead back and hold on for good.

STATS

• Marist would hold Iona to 3-for-22 (.136) from behind the three-point line. Red Foxes converted on 8-for-26 (.571) of their triple attempts.
• Both teams would shoot just over 45 percent from the field overall, 27-58 (.458) for Marist and 27-56 (.482) for Iona.
• Marist held the rebounding advantage with 35 total boards, 15 on the offensive end, to Iona's 31 boards (11 offensive).
• The game saw 12 ties and nine lead changes with Marist holding the lead for 17:44 minutes of action to Iona's 14:46.
• Jao Ituka finished with 13 points for the Red Foxes and added two assists. Ricardo Wright notched 11 for the Foxes along with three rebounds and two assists. Javon Cooley, Braden Bell, and Samkelo Cele each scored ­eight for Marist.

NOTES

• Gaels have now won seven straight meetings in New Rochelle between the teams.
• Marist's last win at Iona was a 105-104 double overtime victory on Feb. 7, 2013.
• Iona now leads the all-time series, 51-18.

UP NEXT

• Marist heads to the road to take on Fairfield on Friday, Jan. 7.
• Tip-off at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut is set for 7 p.m.