For the second year in a row, the Manhattan Jaspers beat the Iona Gaels to win the MAAC Tournament. Manhattan came away with a 79-69 win Monday night to clinch its eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Manhattan wins 2015 MAAC basketball tournament: Jaspers wear down Iona, 79-69
Manhattan ended Iona’s NCAA Tournament dream and won the MAAC’s automatic bid for the second year in a row.
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Manhattan dominated most of the first half, jumping out to an 11-point lead. They threatened to run away with this game early on, but Iona stormed back with a 10-0 run at the end of the half to make the score close. The two teams went into the locker room with Manhattan leading, 39-37.
Things remained tight in the second half with neither team really pulling away until late. Manhattan held a four-point lead at the five-minute mark, and then Iona's star player, David Laury, picked up his fourth foul. The Jaspers later extended their lead to nine points, the largest deficit Iona had faced since the first half. With less than three minutes to go, that was too much for the Gaels to overcome.
Four Manhattan players scored in double digits, with the Jaspers shooting 43.3 percent from the field. Ashton Pankey led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds, making 6-of-10 field goals. Emmy Andujar also had a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds on 8-of-16 shooting.
Laury led the Gaels with 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists before fouling out in the final seconds. A.J. English was held in check by Manhattan, scoring 10 points on just 3-of-11 shooting. As a team, Iona shot 39 percent from the field and made just 5-of-22 three-pointers. The Gaels have a small consolation -- as regular-season MAAC champions, they earn an automatic bid into the NIT.
Last season, Manhattan earned a No. 13 seed in the NCAAs and lost to No. 4 Louisville, 71-64. They haven’t won a game in the tournament since 2004.
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