The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tips off on a relatively thin Friday night college hoops slate with a matchup between the Iona Gaels (8-10, 3-4 MAAC) and the Siena Saints (3-15, 2-5 MAAC). Iona is coming off a road loss to Quinnipiac, doing down 91-87 as just half-point underdogs. Siena also just lost a close one on the road, losing to Marist 50-48 but did cover the spread as 6.5-point dogs. These teams split their two conference matchups last season, with each team winning on their home floor. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 EST from MVP Arena in Albany, New York.
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The Iona Gaels were in a shootout in their last game against Quinnipiac, but their defense could not keep up as they allowed 50 points in the second half in the 91-87 loss. Iona led the majority of the second half, even leading by 14 with 16 minutes remaining before giving up the late run. Iona got a big game out of guard Idan Tretout, he had 30 points and knocked down six threes in the close loss.
2H U12 (11:22): #Iona 68, #Quinnipiac 59
GG starting to cook in the second half…. he's got 10 in the first 9:38.#GaelNation #MAACHoops
??: @ESPNPlus (https://t.co/jVhMQfekTj) pic.twitter.com/hv7KzWXTMA— Iona Men's Basketball (@IonaGaelsMBB) January 21, 2024
Tretout leads the team in scoring as a 6'4 senior guard with 14.3 PPG while adding 2.9 RPG and 2.4 APG. He scored 30 last game out against Quinnipiac, but it was not his season high as he dropped 34 in the second game of the season against Sacred Heart. Tretout has scored 13 or more in his last four games. Greg Gordon is another scorer on the wing, he is a 6'5 junior adding 13.0 PPG and 6.2 RPG. Over his last four games he put up 26 against Mount Saint Mary's and 24 against Niagara. The best shooter on the team is 6'7 senior Wheza Panzo, he has 49 made threes on the year and is connecting on 36.0% of his attempts while adding 10.2 PPG. They start a 7-foot center inside, Osborn Shema is a senior center out of Rwanda adding 7.4 PPG and 3.6 RPG.
Iona is currently ranked 180th overall according to KenPom. They rank 193rd in offensive efficiency and 179th in defensive efficiency. The Gaels are 207th in the nation in pace of p lay. The MAAC is very likely to only get one bid to the NCAA Tournament, which will go to the winner of the conference tournament.
Injury Report: None listed