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NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (AP) — A.J. English made a career-high 13 3-pointers and a scored a career-best 46 points to lead Iona to a 101-77 rout over Fairfield in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener on Tuesday night.
English, the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, was 15 of 25 from the floor and had eight assists and two steals. He surpassed his previous highs of 37 points, eight 3-pointers and 11 field goals.
NBA scouts have attended every single Iona game, and the Knicks watched him last month, as we reported here.
“He’s an exceptional shooter and plays like a senior,” Fairfield coach Sydney Johnson told SNY.tv “He’s confident and steady. I think it takes a senior with similar talent and experience to combat A.J. and without Marcus Gilbert we weren’t able to respond enough to A.J. and Iona.”
The 7-foot Gilbert is out this season with an undisclosed medical condition.
Jahaad Proctor scored 20 points and Jordan Washington added 18 for Iona (2-2, 1-0).
Curtis Cobb scored 16 points to lead Fairfield (3-4, 0-1). Jerome Segura added 11 points with eight assists.
The Gaels had a 47-41 halftime lead and opened the second half on a 30-14 run to stretch its lead to 77-55 with 12 minutes left. English scored 20 points with five 3-pointers, and Proctor added five points during the span.
It was the most points scored for Iona since beating Delaware State 126-76 on Nov. 26, 2014.
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