Hawks Fall to Iona in MAAC Semifinal

ALBANY, N.Y. - Senior Max DiLeo (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) connected on five three-pointers for a career-high 21 points, but Monmouth fell to top-seeded Iona 95-77 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference semifinals on Sunday at the Times Union Center.

Monmouth team on the court at the MAAC semifinals (Monmouth Athletics)

DiLeo, who went 5-of-7 from three-point range and 6-of-7 from the free throw line tallied his career-best total, while Deon Jones (Wilmington, Del./Sanford School) added 18 points, and Brice Kofane (Yaounde, Cameroon/Miller School/Providence) notched 10 points and seven rebounds. Justin Robinson (Lake Katrine, N.Y./Kingston) notched nine points and six rebounds and Collin Stewart (Glenville, N.Y./Mekeel Christian Academy) tallied nine points as well for the Hawks, who fall to 18-15 overall.

Monmouth, which shot 61.5% from the field in the first half, connected on 29-of-58 overall, and held a 34-22 edge in points in the paint.

Senior Andrew Nicholas (Wrightsville, Pa./Eastern York) tallied six points and six assists.

Iona connected on a MAAC Tournament record 19 three-pointers.

A 10-2 run by the Hawks, capped by a DiLeo three-pointer, pulled Monmouth within 27-25 with 6:35 remaining in the first half, but the Gaels, who hit 11 first-half treys, held a 57-45 lead at the intermission.
A 9-3 run to open the second half, which culminated in Kofane's putback at the 17:00 mark, got the Hawks within 60-54, but Iona grabbed an 82-65 lead with 7:27 showing. Consecutive DiLeo trifectas made the score 89-75 with 2:50 left.

A.J. English (7-of-10 3FGs) scored a game-high 29 points, while Isaiah Williams (9-15 3FGs) notched 27 points.