ST. THOMAS, USVI – Senior Lamont Jones scored 40 points and hit a game tying three-point field goal with 4.2 seconds remaining but it was not enough as the Iona College basketball team dropped a 98-92 overtime decision to Quinnipiac in its first contest at the 2012 Ezybonds Global Payments USVI Paradise Jam. Jones broke a seven-year old tournament record for most points in a single game.
Jones’ 40-point outburst was his second in Maroon & Gold and just the seventh ever 40+ point effort in school history. He ties Gael Hall of Famer Warren Isaac for the most in Iona history. Prior to a 43-point effort vs. Canisius by Jones last season, the last time an Iona performer posted 40 or more points in a game was Sean Green’s 43 vs. Siena on Mar. 3, 1991.
Jones shot 13-for-28 from the field with two three-pointers and was 12-for-15 from the line. He scored 28 points in the second half alone, including a clutch three-pointer with Iona down three in its last possession in regulation.
The back and forth contest was saw 10 tie scores and lead changes. After junior Sean Armand brought the Gaels to within two points with a running jumper in the lane at the 5:30 mark, Quinnipiac scored six straight points over the next 2:32 and led 72-64 after a Zaid Hearst tip-in. Iona clawed its way back when Jones made it a two-point game with a lunging three-pointer with 16 seconds to play. The Bobcats’ Jamee Jackson converted 1-of-2 from the free throw line in the ensuing position, setting up the dramatic three-point bomb by Jones that knotted the score at 79-79. The Gaels survived a Dave Johnson field goal attempt in the final four seconds and forced overtime.
Back-to-back three-pointers by Quinnipiac on its first two possessions all but sunk the Gaels in the extra stanza. The back breaker came when Shaq Shannon banked home a three pointer from the top of the key with the shot clock expiring with 3:57 to play. Jones made it a three-point game after two free throws with 2:32 remaining but Iona would not get any closer. The Gaels struggled from the field in overtime, converting just 1-of-12 attempts. They did, however, convert 7-of-10 from the charity stripe.
Jones’ effort was backed up by Armand’s 18 points. He connected on four three-point field goals. Junior Tre Bowman poured in 15 points with the help of an 8-for-10 effort from the free throw line. Senior Taaj Ridley had seven points and a team-best nine rebounds. Sophomore Tavon Sledge posted four points, seven rebounds and a team-high five assists in the loss.
Quinnipiac had five players in the double-digit scoring column including two with double-doubles. Ike Azotam has 21 points and 10 boards, while Jackson added 17 points and 10 rebounds. Hearst scored seven of his 17 points in the overtime period.
The Bobcats outshot the Gaels 56.9% to 39.0%. It was just the fourth time in 72 games under head coach Tim Cluess that Iona failed to reach the 40% mark from the field. Quinnipiac – one of the nation’s top rebounding teams – took a 38-34 advantage on the boards, although the Gaels were able to grab 19 off the offensive glass in the contest. The loss was also just the second in 16 contests where Iona has scored 90 points in the Cluess era.
With the loss, the Gaels will face the ACC’s Wake Forest in the consolation round of the Paradise Jam. The two teams tip off at 5:00 pm ET Saturday (Nov. 17) at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center. The game can be seen live on ParadiseJam.com. Iona’s live audio coverage featuring Gary Stanley and Kevin Hamilton will be available on IonaInsider.com
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