Iona wins MAAC Championship for 4th straight season to punch NCAA Tournament ticket

By ADAM ZAGORIA

Rickey McGill and Iona are headed back to the NCAA Tournament for a fourth straight season.

McGill made MAAC Championship history by becoming the first player to win four titles when he helped lead top-seeded Iona to an 81-60 win over No. 6 Monmouth at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. It was the 10th straight win for Iona, which began the season 2-9.

“Winning four, that’s a blessing,” McGill said on ESPN2 after becoming one of five players in double-figures with 10 points and 4 rebounds. “Four, that’s history right there, so I’m going to go down in history and try to be great.”

CBSSports.com bracketologist Jerry Palm has Iona as a 16 seed and playing among the First Four in Dayton on March 19.

Iona guard Asante Gist led his team with 22 points, including 5-of-9 from deep. Tajaun Agee scored 18 points with 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists, E.J. Crawford had 15 points with 6 rebound and Ben Perez 14 points, 5 rebound and 5 steals.

“We came out, we played hard, we played Iona basketball and we got the win,” McGill said.

#ICMBB IS DANCING AGAIN!!! #MAACChamps!!! pic.twitter.com/scW9mt5I33

— Iona Men’s Hoops (@IonaGaelsMBB) March 12, 2019

This was the seventh straight apperance in the MAAC title game for Iona and Coach Tim Cluess, who has now taken Iona to six NCAA Tournaments in nine years (67 percent) and four straight.

Iona (17-15) also beat Monmouth in the 2016 MAAC title game.

At least five teams from the Great State of New York are in position to make the Big Dance:@Cuse_MBB @StJohnsBBall @HofstraMBB @UBmenshoops @IonaGaelsMBB pic.twitter.com/LN2QMq4b3m

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 2, 2019

After an 0-12 start, Monmouth (14-21) went 14-9 including wins over No. 11 Niagara, No. 3 Quinnipiac and No. 2 Canisius to get to the MAAC title game.

Gist holds the distinction of having won the New Jersey Tournament of Champions title with two different programs (St. Anthony’s and Roselle Catholic).

This would be Tim Cluess’ 6th NCAA appearance in 9 years at @IonaGaelsMBB. That’s 67 percent. https://t.co/qL5XNua0wV

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 12, 2019

Photo: Iona

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