Iona vs Mt. St. Mary’s Prediction 12/29/2025 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers and the Iona Gaels will meet on Monday evening in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference matchup at Knott Arena in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers Betting Preview

The Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers enter Monday night’s game with a 4–9 win‑loss record, including a 0–2 mark in conference play. The Mountaineers have compiled wins over Saint Francis, Howard, Loyola Maryland and Penn State Brandywine, while dropping games to West Virginia, Western Michigan, Maryland and the Ohio State Buckeyes. More recently, in the Mountaineers’ 73–42 victory over Penn State Brandywine earlier this month, Mount St. Mary’s forward Justin Amadi amassed 12 points (6 of 7 shooting from the field), 3 rebounds and 1 block.

The Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers average 68.2 points on 43.8 percent shooting from the field and 34.3 percent from three-point range per game. Defensively, the Mountaineers are allowing opponents 78.8 points per contest which ranks a dreadful 254th in the nation.

Senior guard Arlandus Keyes leads the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers averaging 12.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Junior forward Lamar McEldon contributes 10.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.5 steals per contest, while senior guard Xavier Lipscomb averages 10.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

Iona Gaels Betting Preview

The Iona Gaels enter Monday evening’s contest with a 9–4 overall record. The Gaels have compiled wins over Vermont, Bryant, Sacred Heart and the Oregon State Beavers, while dropping games to St. John’s, Akron and the Green Bay Phoenix. More recently, in the Iona Gaels thrilling 83–78 victory over the Vermont Catamounts nine days ago, Iona guard Keshawn Williams accumulated 20 points (9 of 15 shooting from the field), 5 rebounds and 1 assist illustrating his ability to lead the Gaels backcourt.

The Iona Gaels average 80.5 points on 45.7 percent shooting from the field and 36.7 percent shooting from behind the arc per game. The Gaels are allowing opponents 78.5 points per game which ranks an abysmal 251th in the country.

Senior guard CJ Anthony leads the Iona Gaels averaging 16.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Senior forward Lamin Sabally contributes 12.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.2 steals per contest, while senior forward Toby Harris averages 12.8 points, 4 rebounds and 0.5 steals per game.

Why the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers Will Win

 • Backcourt production. Senior guard Arlandus Keyes leads the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers averaging 12.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

• Home court advantage. The Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers plays the team’s best basketball at Knott Arena. The Mountaineers are 8-0 at home this season.

Why the Iona Gaels Will Win

• Offensive firepower. The Iona Gaels are averaging 80.5 points per game.

• Rebounding edge. Forward Lamin Sabally leads the Iona Gaels with 8.4 rebounds per contest.

• Quality guard play. Guard CJ Anthony averages 5.9 assists per game.

Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers vs. Iona Gaels Prediction

This matchup features Iona’s high-powered offense and rebounding strength against a Mount St. Mary’s team that has struggled defensively throughout the season. Look for the Mountaineers to lean on Arlandus Keyes scoring and Xavier Lipscombs playmaking, while the Gaels will counter with CJ Anthony’s perimeter creation and Lamin Sabally’s interior presence.

Mount St. Mary’s has been competitive at home, but their defensive profile and turnover issues present a difficult matchup against an Iona team that scores efficiently and pushes tempo. If the Gaels maintain their offensive rhythm and control the glass, this game should be close down the stretch. With that said, I like the under in this game. I think the Mountaineers will slow the pace in this game which will result in fewer points being scored than the market anticipates.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Under