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Momo’s Hynes record 43 leads Iona over Canisius
Lamont "Momo" Jones shot 16-for-23 from the field, 7-for-12 from beyond the arc, 9-for-11 from inside it and 4-of-5 from the line. (Photo courtesy of ICGaels.com)
NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Junior Lamont “Momo” Jones’ 43-point effort and double-doubles by seniors Mike Glover and Scott Machado led the Iona College men’s basketball team to a 105-86 win over Canisius in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action. Jones set a Hynes Center record with the point total and is the first Gael to reach 40+ points in more than 20 seasons.
Jones broke Steve Burtt’s building record of 40 points set on Feb. 1, 1984, nearly 28 years to the day vs. Holy Cross. Remarkably, Burtt and former Iona great Gary Springer were on campus this afternoon and had an opportunity to speak with Jones before the game. He was the first Iona player since Sean Green poured in 43 points vs. Siena during the MAAC Championship on Mar. 3, 1991. Both Green and Jones’ efforts were surpassed only by Warren Isaac’s school record 50 points vs. Bates on Dec. 18, 1964.
Jones shot 16-for-23 from the field, 7-for-12 from beyond the arc, 9-for-11 from inside it and 4-of-5 from the line. The seven three-pointers was also a career-best and he added four rebounds, three steals and two assists. Machado scored 14 points, dished out 14 assists and grabbed six rebounds. It was his ninth double-double of the year. Glover netted 12 points and had 11 rebounds with four assists and two steals. It was Glover’s team-best 11th double-double of the season, fourth straight and fifth in the last six games. Junior Taaj Ridley and sophomore Sean Armand posted eight points apiece off the bench.
Iona’s 105 points was a season-high and the fourth 100+ effort of the season. The last time the Gaels scored as many as 105 points was a 105-61 win over Bucknell at the Hynes Center on Dec. 2, 2000 at the Hynes Center. It was the 20th time in school history (19-1 record) that the Maroon & Gold netted 105 or more.
It was an evenly matched contest in the first half with both teams scoring at a frenetic pace. There were seven total lead changes and six tie scores. Iona’s 51.3 shooting percentage was surpassed by Canisius’ 56.3% in the frame. Jones scored 20 points and was nearly matched by the Griffs’ Gaby Belardo 19. The Gaels’ led by as many as six points in on two occasions in the final 90 seconds. Belardo’s layup with three ticks left made the score 51-47 going into halftime.
Canisius tied the score seven times in the first 6:26 of the second half but never took the lead. Alshwan Hymes made the score 69-69 with 13:44 remaining. The Gaels followed with 10 straight points over the next 70 seconds including eight by Jones alone. His tip-in with 13:17 left gave Iona the lead for good, and the junior his career-high with his 29th point. The run followed with two Jones’ three pointers with two free throws by Ridley sandwiched in between. The Maroon & Gold led 79-69 with 11:34 remaining. Iona continued to build its lead, and the 19-point margin at the end of the game was its largest of the contest. After the 69-69 tie, the Gaels outscored Canisius 36-17. The Griffs shot just 4-for-16 during the stretch with seven of its 16 turnovers in the final 13+ minutes.
Iona outshot Canisius 56.3% – 52.5% for the game with the help of a 20-for-32 (62.5%) effort in the second half. The home team out rebounded its opponents 35-31 and posted 25 assists to just a season-low six turnovers. It was the Gaels’ – the nation’s leading assist team – 13th 20+ assist effort of the year.
Four Canisius players scored double-digits led by Belardo with 27 and Hymes with 23. The duo converted all 10 of the Griffs long distance connections. Josiah Heath had 12 points and eight boards while Harold Washington added 13 points and three assists.
The Gaels hit the road for two games facing Manhattan on Saturday (Feb. 4) and Loyola next Friday (Feb. 10). The squad then finishes the regular season with four of its last five games at the Hynes Center.
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