The Quinnipiac Bobcats (14-11, 8-8 MAAC) fell to the Iona Gaels (21-6, 14-2 MAAC) 60-57, despite holding the Gaels to their worst shooting performance of the season.
The Bobcats entered the game battling for fifth place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and a first round bye in the conference tournament. With a Canisius win earlier in the day, Quinnipiac needed a win to stay ahead in fifth place in the MAAC. With the loss, the Bobcats are tied with the Golden Griffins at 8-8 in the MAAC.
In the first half, both teams went back and forth, but the Gaels held a 20-13 lead behind Schadrac Casimir, who knocked down three quick three-pointers to put the Gaels on top. The Bobcats were able to battle back and take a halftime lead 31-26.
The Bobcats tight defense held the Gaels to under 25 percent shooting from the field in the half, half their season average. The Bobcats did not shoot much better at just over 34 percent but it was enough to hold a lead as the buzzer sounded.
Senior forward Ousmane Drame led the Bobcats with eight points and 12 rebounds in the first half.
Iona’s shooting woes continued into the second half as they opened 2-10 from the field. AJ English then knocked off his shooting struggle with back to back threes to put the Gaels within two points at 38-36 but senior Justin Harris knocked down a mid-range jumper to answer back.
With 8:30 remaining in the game, the Gaels battled back and put together a run behind David Laury to take a 47-44 lead over the Bobcats.
Laury took over the remainder of the second half and finished with 18 points and nine rebounds for the Gaels.
With 40 seconds to go in the game, Casimir drove down the baseline, finished the reverse layup, and drew the foul. He converted the three-point-play at the line to put the Gaels up 58-55.
The Bobcats had an opportunity to tie the game with their last possession, but senior Zaid Hearst’s three-pointer was no good at the buzzer.
One week after knocking down 14 three-pointers against the Niagara Purple Eagles, the Bobcats were ice cold all game from three, shooting only 2-19 from behind the arc.
“I thought we did a really good job on their three big scorers,” head coach Tom Moore said. “We didn’t make enough shots.”
Drame led the Bobcats with 16 points and 18 rebounds, notching his nation-leading 18th double-double.
Although the Bobcats came up short, Moore said he was proud of his team’s defense. On the season, the Gaels score 82 points per game and shoot over 48 percent from the field. The Bobcats held them to only 60 points and 31.5 percent shooting.
“I don’t think they’ve had a night where they only shot 31,” Moore said. “We made good decisions on how we needed to help. Our guys were alert and attentive on every possession.”
The Bobcats fall to 14-11 and 8-8 in the conference with the loss. The team travels to take on Rider next as they fight to cling onto their first round bye.
