By JEREMY FUCHS
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. –– In his first game back from a one-game suspension for a reported misdemeanor assault charge, Iona forward David Laury showed why he was awarded the preseason MAAC Player of the Year award.
In 37 minutes of play, Laury led all scorers with a career-high 30 points, along with 11 rebounds and three assists in Iona’s 91-84 win over Indiana State Saturday.
“I just wanted to have my teammates’ back, like they had my back the other night [against Rider],” Laury said, referring to the team’s win without him on Friday. “Tonight I wanted to come out and be aggressive.”
Laury was arrested Tuesday night in New Rochelle by the New Rochelle Police Department following an incident a few blocks from campus, police confirmed to SNY.tv.
Both Laury and coach Tim Cluess declined to comment on Laury’s suspension.
The attention in New Rochelle has been on junior guard A.J. English, who entered Saturday’s game as the leading scorer in the nation, but it’s Laury who is quietly having a terrific season. The 6-foot-9, 245-pound senior from East Orange, N.J. is averaging 16.6 points and 7.4 rebounds. Against Arkansas on Nov. 30, ranked 38th by KenPom.com, Laury went off, scoring 25 points and adding 14 rebounds.
“I usually have the matchup, it’s all up to me being passive or not,” Laury said. “I just need to be aggressive and stay aggressive. And not play passive. When I play passive, I turn the ball over, I’m not aggressive on rebounds. All this translates.”
Laury came to Iona after a stop at Lamar State, a junior college in Texas, where he averaged 16.2 points and 9.8 rebounds.
A power forward by name only, he is silky smooth in the post, easily backing down opposing forwards and possesses a number of moves with his nifty footwork. But Laury also has the ability to put the ball on the deck and drive. Midway through the first half, with the shot clock winding down, Laury started at half court and easily made his way to the bucket for an easy two. Laury can really operate as a point forward, comfortable with the ball in his hands on the perimeter.
“He’s a really good player,” Indiana State coach Greg Lansing said. “He played hard.”
Last season, Laury was an important member of the Iona team that lost in the first round of the NIT to Louisiana Tech. Laury averaged 14 points and 8.3 rebounds last year, and was named to both the All-MAAC Second Team and the MAAC All-Tournament Team.
On Saturday, Laury was essential to the team’s comeback in the second half. After scoring 11 points in the first, and his team down by six, Laury took over the game, scoring 19 in the second stanza and grabbed eight rebounds.
“I thought Dave gave us a great second half,” Cluess said. “I thought Dave helped carry the team and take care of A.J. tonight.”
Iona is a talented team, ranked 78th by KenPom, the highest ranking for a MAAC team. The preseason No. 1 MAAC team, the Gaels have the talent to make the tournament and make some noise. The trio of Laury, English, and junior guard Isaiah Williams, who scored a career-high 27 points, will be tough for some teams to stop, especially if English gets hot. The high-low combination of English and Laury has the potential to be lethal.
Iona last made the tournament in 2013 as a No. 15 seed, where they lost to Ohio State. They are currently 1-1 in MAAC play, losing to Monmouth earlier this month.
In addition to his ability down low, Laury is also a really talented passer, including a nice backdoor pass to freshman guard Schadrac Casimir in the second half.
Even though his star teammate English couldn’t get a shot to fall all afternoon, and only scored eight for the game, it was Laury who stepped up when the Gaels needed it most.
“A.J. was struggling a little bit,” Laury said. “To me, in my eyes, he’s the best point guard in the country. I just wanted to have his back.”
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