The Iona Gaels secured a 69-63 win over the Canisius Golden Griffins, with Lamin Sabally leading the charge with 17 points and 9 rebounds. This victory improves Iona's record to 15-11, while Canisius falls to 8-18. The Gaels shot 45.8% from the field, including 7 three-pointers, to overcome the Golden Griffins' 42.1% shooting. Iona's 34 points in the first half set the tone for the game, as they maintained a lead throughout.
Lamin Sabally's 9 Rebounds Lead Iona to 32-25 Rebounding Advantage
The Iona Gaels took an early 10-point lead, scoring 34 points in the first half, while the Canisius Golden Griffins managed 24 points. Canisius narrowed the gap in the second half, scoring 39 points, but Iona's consistent offense, with 35 points in the second half, secured the 6-point win. A key factor in the game was Iona's ability to limit Canisius to 5 three-pointers, while making 7 themselves. The Golden Griffins' Bryan Ndjonga led his team with 17 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Gaels' balanced attack. Iona's 15-11 record now includes a 6-8 record in quad 1 and 2 games, and 9-3 in quad 3 and 4 games.
Lamin Sabally and Bryan Ndjonga were the top performers in the game, each scoring 17 points. Sabally added 9 rebounds to his stat line, while Ndjonga shot 7-12 from the field. Iona's Kosy Akametu and Luke Jungers also made significant contributions, scoring 16 and 12 points, respectively. For Canisius, Kahlil Singleton and Myles Wilmoth chipped in with 14 and 11 points, respectively. The Gaels' balanced offense, with three players scoring in double figures, proved too much for the Golden Griffins to handle. Iona's players shot a combined 45.8% from the field, including 40% from three-point range.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The Iona Gaels outrebounded the Canisius Golden Griffins 32-25, including 10 offensive rebounds. Iona also committed 12 turnovers, compared to Canisius' 15. The Gaels shot 45.8% from the field, including 7-17 from three-point range, while Canisius shot 42.1% from the field and 5-15 from three-point range. The Golden Griffins' 39 points in the second half were not enough to overcome Iona's strong first half. Iona's 69 points were the most they have scored in their last 5 games, and their 45.8% field goal percentage was their highest in the last 10 games.
The CHD Scout predicted an Iona win by 9.3 points, with a predicted score of 66-75. While the actual margin of victory was 6 points, the prediction was correct in terms of the winner. The predicted score was slightly off, but the model correctly identified Iona as the stronger team. Iona's 15-11 record and 235 NET ranking suggest they are a solid mid-major team, while Canisius' 8-18 record and 344 NET ranking indicate they are still rebuilding. The model's prediction was based on Iona's stronger offense and defense, which was evident in the game.
This win improves Iona's quad 4 record to 9-3, while Canisius falls to 1-14 in quad 1 and 2 games, and 7-4 in quad 3 and 4 games. The Gaels' 235 NET ranking should remain relatively stable, while the Golden Griffins' 344 NET ranking may drop slightly. Iona's tournament resume is still a work in progress, but this win helps to bolster their case. With a 6-8 record in quad 1 and 2 games, Iona needs to continue to win games like this to improve their chances of making the tournament. Canisius, on the other hand, is likely out of tournament contention, but can still play spoiler in their remaining games.
The Iona Gaels want to build on this win in their next game, while the Canisius Golden Griffins will try to bounce back from the loss. Iona's next game is against the Manhattan Jaspers on February 17, while Canisius faces the Niagara Purple Eagles on February 19. Both teams must be focused and prepared for their upcoming games, as the season is nearing its end.