Final Stats

MAAC Preseason Player of the Year David Laury scored 27 points and freshman Schadrac Casmir made 12 of Iona's 30 free throws in the Gaels 87-83 win over Siena Friday night in New Rochelle.

"Tim Cluess and I have turned into old school, because we want to score 90 points," Jimmy Patsos. "Welcome to 2015. It was a great game. I always like playing Iona. It was a very entertaining game for our league to have on ESPNU."

Iona, which was playing without the MAAC's second-leading scorer A.J. English (suspended), shot 8-13 from three-point range in the first half to take a 46-42 lead to the lockerroom.

Siena jumped out to a 9-0 lead, but Iona scored 10 of the next 12 points and the track meet was on. The Gaels led for the final 30 minutes, and by as many as 13 with 10:42 left, but Siena didn't go away.

Marquis Wright led four Saints in double figures (six scored at least nine) with 19 points, and keyed a late charge that brought Siena within three four times.

Iona led 84-81 after Lavon Long's layup with 56 seconds left and Rob Poole stole the ball on the Gaels next trip, but Wright couldn't convert in transition. Casmir and Laury sealed the deal from the foul line in the final seconds.

Casmir scored 22 points and was a perfect 12-12 from the line. Kelvin Amayo was 9-9 from the stripe after entering the game shooting 51% on his way to 17 points. Iona made 30-35 free throws, compared to 17-23 for Siena.

The Saints had 24 offensive rebounds, and out-rebounded the Gaels 44-37, but Iona got several key second chances late. Siena had 17 assists and nine turnovers and out-scored the Gaels 19-6 off turnovers and 16-6 on fast break points.

Long had 17 points, Poole finished with 13 and freshman Jimmy Paige continued his emergence with 10 points and nine rebounds making the most of his first collegiate start.

Siena falls into a sixth place tie with Quinnipiac at 6-7 in conference, just one game behind Canisius which lost at Manhattan Friday. The top five teams get a bye in the First Round of the MAAC Championships next month.

The Saints will try for their seventh conference weekend split of the season Monday at Saint Peter's.