Newcomers key Iona’s MAAC title
ALBANY, N.Y. — Newfaces. Same old Iona.
Roland Griffin and Zach Lewis, transfers playing their first seasons with the Gaels, combined to score 49 points as Iona beat Fairfield 83-71 on Monday to capture the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament title for the third straight time and earn the conference’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
It was the fourth MAAC title for coach Tim Cluess and every bit as sweet as the others, if not moreso, because of all the doubters that surfaced after the Gaels started 1-4 after being picked to win the conference.
“I love these guys because they found a way,” Cluess said. “They know that people doubted. They know that people gave up on them. I think it’s even more special because they never gave up on themselves. They’re just a tough, gritty group.”
Iona (20-13), the fourth seed, extended its league record to 11 tournament titles. Fairfield (17-16), the sixth seed, had won seven straight games and was seeking its fourth title.
But the Stags were no match inside for the Gaels, who outscored them 44-22 in the paint instead of relying so much on the long ball. Iona entered averaging nearly 10 made 3s per game and attempted just 13.
“We were mindful of their shooting, and they found another way to hurt you,” Fairfield coach Sydney Johnson said.
Griffin had a career-high 29 points, four blocks, and made all 11 free throws he attempted.
“The whole year, Coach said just make plays,” said Griffin, who played at Illinois State and Midland College in Texas before transferring to Iona for his final two years of eligibility.”
Lewis, a graduate transfer from Canisius, was named tournament MVP after scoring 20 points and nabbing a gamehigh four steals.
“This is amazing,” Lewis said at the podium afterward, the shiny championship trophy at his side,” Lewis said. “All I want to do is win. That’s why I came
here.”
Iona’s path to its sixth straight MAAC championship game was made easier when the top three top seeds — Rider, Canisius and Niagara — were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
It was the first time since 2002 that the top three failed to make the semifinals, and the Gaels took advantage.
Southern Unc-greensboro 62, East Tennessee State 47—
At Asheville, N.C., Jordy Kuiper and Demetrius Troy scored 13 points apiece for the Spartans (27-7), who held the Buccaneers (25-9) to 30.6-percent shooting and earned their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2001.
James Dickey III had nine points, eight rebounds and five blocks, helping Greensboro overcome a tough night from tournament MVP Francis Alonso, who mustered six points on 2-for-11 shooting.
Jalan Mcloud had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead ETSU, which beat the Spartans in last season’s Southern title game.