It’s always tough when what’s possibly your best game of the season ends in heartbreak. The Gaels suffered that tenfold today in North Andover, with an 88-86 loss to Merrimack.
Both Iona and Merrimack came into the game fresh off of huge overtime wins against top conference opponents in Saint Peter’s and Siena. Merrimack was heavily favored for this matchup, their 7-game win streak and undefeated streak at home likely large factors, but Iona gave them a lot of trouble.
The Gaels struggled to keep up with Merrimack’s fast-paced offense throughout the first half. Regardless, they managed to hang in there, down only three at halftime. The beginning to middle of the second half was much sloppier. Defense could not hold, and the Warriors went on a run. With 11 minutes left, they were up 56-41 on the Gaels.
At that moment, ESPN gave Merrimack a 98.2% chance of winning.
Iona had some words for ESPN.
Maybe Dan Geriot gave a particularly passionate timeout speech—because Iona went on a 10-0 run spanning five minutes, pulling themselves in range of the lead.
And CJ Anthony made three shots straight from the arc, all with under a minute left in regulation, to tie it at 68.
The game was sent to OT, which the Gaels dominated at first, continuing their momentum. Anthony kept up what he started in the second half, dropping another three and a floater soon after to keep Iona in it.
In fact, they were leading 77-74 and looked like they were going to win it. Unfortunately, a foul was called against Jungers on Merrimack’s Marrero, who, even more unfortunately, was shooting at the 3-point line.
He made his free throws, and the blockbuster matchup was sent to double overtime.
To start off, Luke Jungers made his fourth 3. Soon after, Iona’s down 84-80, and he sinks his fifth, but Ernest Shelton of the Warriors matches it.
87-84, and only 20 seconds left. More MAACtion involving lots of fouling, and Sabally is suddenly shooting two free throws with two seconds left. 88-85 Merrimack.
He sinks the first, but Iona is still down two, and they’re forced to intentionally miss. Sabally hurls it at the front end of the rim. A battle for the ball in a huge cluster of jerseys, but the clock runs out.
Despite the loss, it’s no doubt that Iona played some of their best ball they’ve played the whole season. Every player who scored ended with double digits, including 25 from Anthony, 20 from Jungers, 16 from Akametu, 13 from Sabally, and 12 from Harris. Further: the team shot 41% from 3. They showed up in moments that mattered most with clutch baskets and defensive plays.
On the other hand, Alliou Fall and Denver Anglin played 22 and 28 minutes respectively, and did not score once. Fall had some impact with a big block in the second half, but he also committed two turnovers and missed all three shots he took. Anglin had two blocks, but missed all five of his shots.
Some unnecessary fouls were committed, too; Merrimack had 25 points off of free throws. Defense was a key point in the loss too. It absolutely strengthened late in the second half, but the Gaels struggled heavily with slowing Merrimack’s powerful and fast offense. Six of their players scored 10+ points. Warriors star Kevair Kennedy, projected MAAC Player of the Year, dropped 20 for his fourth game straight.
As the regular season comes to a close and Iona looks ahead to the upcoming MAAC Tournament, which they clinched by defeating Saint Peter’s on Friday, the Gaels will need to learn from this loss. Unnecessary fouls have hurt them in multiple games, and this time was no different. Games in the MAAC move rapidly and are full of strong, underrated teams; anyone can win at any time. Iona will need to treat any upcoming game like it’s a championship and continue to play at their best, because now is the time where that matters the most.