Iona notches three-peat in MAAC Championship, headed back to NCAA Tournament

By ADAM ZAGORIA

The Iona Gaels are once again champions of the MAAC and are headed to the NCAA Tournament for a third straight season.

Junior Roland Griffin went off for a career-high 29 points with 8 rebounds as No. 4 Iona notched a 83-71 win over No. 6 Fairfield at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. The win guaranteed a three-peat in the MAAC Championship game for the Gaels.

Coach Tim Cluess and the Gaels (20-13) became the first MAAC outfit to three-peat since Siena did it from 2008-10. La Salle won three straight tournament titles from 1998-90.

Under Cluess, Iona has made the NCAA Tournament in five of the last seven seasons, but has yet to win a game in the Big Dance. They figure to be a 14 or 15 seed this year.

Cluess: “It’s the best thing you could ever describe as a coach because you’re so proud of your guys and you feel so good that they had a moment like that together last night and they’ve accomplished something and worked hard for it.” pic.twitter.com/AnVZVpo8vB

— Iona Men’s Hoops (@IonaGaelsMBB) March 6, 2018

It was the 11th MAAC Tournament championship for Iona, which improved to 53-26 in the postseason event.

Fairfield (17-16) still hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 1997.

Iona held Fairfield to 39 percent shooting, while the Gaels shot 48 percent.

Zach Lewis added 20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals for Iona.

Tyler Nelson paced Fairfield with 25 points, making 6-of-8 from beyond the arc. Wassef Methnani went for 14 points and 8 rebounds before fouling out, and Jesus Cruz scored 14 points before fouling out.

Fairfield closed to within 75-69 in the final minute before Schadrac Casimir made two foul shots with 56.7 seconds left to make it 77-69.

Griffin: “This team doesn’t quit, we have a chance to win every game.” pic.twitter.com/koXWKdIZP3

— Iona Men’s Hoops (@IonaGaelsMBB) March 6, 2018

 

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