Coming off a tough loss to the Purple Eagles in Niagara, the Iona Gaels will return home, attempting to climb back up the standings in a major test tomorrow night against No. 2 Saint Peter’s at the Hynes Athletic Center.

Over the last few games, inconsistent shooting and frequent turnovers or fouls have slowed Iona’s momentum, causing the Gaels to drop all the way to 10th in the MAAC, just barely enough to make the upcoming conference tournament. 

Saint Peter’s has felt the late February pressure as well—but they’ve handled more effectively, dropping only two of their last five compared to Iona’s four.

Tomorrow, Iona will look for big games from guard CJ Anthony, who can provide aggression and drives to the rim; sharpshooter Toby Harris, with consistent shooting from the arc; and top rebounder Lamin Sabally. Kosy Akametu may also be a significant contributor, boasting a recent big game against Manhattan.

Just as important: the Gaels will need to stay disciplined against the strong defense of the Peacocks, avoiding unnecessary late fouls and turnovers like the ones committed against Niagara.

Finally: team rebounding will be a key. In their recent loss against Fairfield, Iona was out-rebounded 42 to 31, including 15 boards from a single Stags guard, which caused a loss in the final minutes of the game. In their bigger wins, they’ve matched efficiency with the opponent’s boards or dominated it.

As long as Iona’s talent can limit messy mistakes and remain steady on offense, they will have a huge opportunity to regain MAAC momentum.