Iona stuns top-seeded Siena in quarterfinals

IONA 55 SIENA 52

Berrick Jean-Louis registered 13 points and five steals as No. 9 seed Iona beat top-seeded Siena, 55-52, in the quarterfinals of the Metro Atlantic Conference tournament Wednesday night in Atlantic City.

Asante Gist scored 16 points, hitting two free throws with four seconds left for a six-point lead, for Iona (10-5). Isaiah Ross added 14 points and seven rebounds, and Dylan van Eyck pulled down eight rebounds.

Nelly Junior Joseph, who was second on the Gaels in scoring coming into the matchup with 12 points per game, was held to two points with eight rebounds.

Jackson Stormo notched 14 points and three blocks for the Saints (12-5). Jalen Pickett added 13 points and eight rebounds.

FAIRFIELD UPSETS MONMOUTH

Taj Benning scored a career-high 24 points with 12 rebounds as No. 7 seed Fairfield upset second-seeded Monmouth, 7960, in the quarterfinals of the Metro Atlantic Conference Tourney on Wednesday night.

Jake Wojcik scored 12 points for Fairfield (9-16). Caleb Green added 12 points. Supreme Cook scored 11 points with 14 rebounds.

The Stags play third-seeded Saint Peter’s or No. 11 seed Rider in the semifinals Friday.

Both teams set season records for scoring: Fairfield scored 41 first-half points, while Monmouth’s 26 points second-half points were the fewest of the season.

Melik Martin scored 12 points for the Hawks (12-8).

DUKE TOPS LOUISVILLE

Freshman Mark Williams set season highs with 23 points and 19 rebounds for his second double-double, Matthew Hurt added 20 points, and No. 10 seed Duke eased by seventh-seeded Louisville, 70-56, on Wednesday night to advance to the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

Williams is just the third Duke player over the last 25 seasons with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in a conference tournament game, joining Marvin Bagley III and Shelden Williams, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Williams’ 19 rebounds were also the most by a freshman in ACC tournament history.

Duke opened the second half on its second sizable run of the game, scoring 17 of the first 22 points over a span of six minutes to extend its lead to 47-34. Jeremy Roach hit two of the Blue Devils’ three 3-pointers during the stretch.