By JADEN DALY
Special to ZAGSBLOG
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Playing archrival Manhattan for the first time since defeating them for the MAAC championship last March, Iona fed off a sellout home crowd to take the first meeting of the season between the two teams considered conference favorites, with five Gaels in double figures en route to an 85-73 win at the Hynes Center.
“What a crowd! What an environment for a college game,” Iona coach Tim Cluess exclaimed after the Gaels won their second straight against Manhattan, and fourth in a row this season. “It’s great for all players, and that’s what Iona-Manhattan is all about.”
Iona was led by David Laury’s 21 points and eight rebounds off the bench, as well as a career-high 19 from Rutgers transfer Mike Poole, but the mood and overall legacy of the rivalry was best described by someone who has spent four years watching it evolve into one of the best in the New York area.
Senior Sean Armand had 18 points, four boards and four assists, A.J. English had 14 points and four assists and sophomore Isaiah Williams added 10 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and three steals in the win.
“I told the guys today it’s kind of bigger than us,” Armand said after a night where he was instrumental in Iona’s 16-3 run midway through the second half, a stretch that ultimately decided the game. “This goes several years back, and to see alumni come back, we get to represent them and their legacy and the rivalry. I’m just happy to be out there.”
Rhamel Brown paced Manhattan with 15 points and eight rebounds and Michael Alvarado and Emmy Andjuar had 11 points apiece.
With the win, Iona remains tied for the MAAC lead with Canisius at 9-2, while Manhattan falls two games behind at 7-4 after the loss. Despite his team’s current standing, Armand knows what the conference is all about as he hopes to lead the Gaels into their third consecutive NCAA Tournament, a goal that stands within greater reach as Iona starts the month of February with a three-game road trip.
“You’ve just got to win three games in March,” he said. “Yeah, you want to be in first place regardless. I want to win at everything we do, who gets through the door first, whatever. In this league, you just have to win three games and we want to be No. 1 at the end of the year.”
Photo: Daily News
