The Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers and theIona Gaels will meet in Atlantic City to face off in the quarterfinals of the MAAC Championship at Boardwalk Hall on ESPN+.
Mount St. Mary’s moved to 13-19 after beating Canisius in the first round. The Mountaineers rallied back and snuck by the Golden Griffins to beat them by one in overtime, 67-66. MSM scores 62.0 points per game, while allowing 64.6 ppg, and shooting 41.3% from the field.
Mount St. Mary’s won four of their last five games, and they’ll look to secure their first ever Metro League tournament win here Tuesday. Senior guard Jalen Benjamin led The Mount in scoring again this season after scoring 21 points or more in four of his last six games to bring his season total to 15.8 ppg. Third-year guard Dakota Leffew led the team with 22 points in the recent win over Canisius, and he’s up to a career-best 13.2 ppg. Senior forward Malik Jefferson grabbed double digit rebounds in each of the last two games against Rider and Manhattan, and he leads MSM in rebounding (7.3), while scoring 8.8 ppg.
Iona improved to 24-7 following a road win over Rider. The Gaels wrestled back and forth with the Broncs, and came away with a two-point win, 80-78. Iona scores 75.6 points per game, while allowing 66.4 ppg, and shooting 45.8% from the field.
Iona closed the season by winning eleven straight games and capturing another regular season Metro League title, and they’ll look to beat The Mount for the third time this season. Sophomore guard Walter Clayton Jr. scored a game-high 28 points in the win over MSM last month, and he leads Iona in scoring (16.5). Former Pacific guard Dariss Jenkins finished the season with back-to-back 21-point outings, and he’s posting a nice line of 15.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, and a team-lead 5.1 apg. Third-year starter Nelly Junior Joseph is the best rebounder in the conference, and after posting a 27-point double-double in the home finale win over Marist, and he’s up to averages of 15.4 ppg and 9.5 rpg.
MSM is 11-18-2 against the spread this season, with a 15-16 over/under record. Iona is 18-13 ATS this year, with a 15-16 o/u record.
Iona is streaking into Atlantic City, and I think they’re quest for a ticket to Big Dance begins on a good note. The Gaels have passed every test this season, and after having a scare put on them by Rider in the finale, they should come out sharp here, with their eyes on the prize. Very little upset potential here, and it should come down to a matter of how much. Iona’s very talented, so roll with the margin here in hopes of a blowout.
AUTHOR: Corey Ghee
