Iona blocked 13 shots and extended its long home-winning streak in an 84-62 victory over Saint Louis Tuesday at the Hynes Athletics Center in New Rochelle, N.Y.
The Billikens dip to 7-3 with the loss. The Gaels improved to 5-2 and extended their home-court win streak at the Hynes Center to 19 games.
Gibson Jimerson led the Billikens in scoring with 15 points, followed by Yuri Collins who scored 14.
Francis Okoro snagged 14 rebounds and blocked three shots.
Iona, which shot 51.4 percent in the first half to grab the lead, was led by Walter Clayton Jr.’s double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds. He also dished out six assists. Two different Iona players registered four blocks as part of its 13 blocked shots on the night.
The Billikens jumped out to a five-point lead midway through the first half at 19-14, but Iona flipped the script and went on a 10-0 run of its own in three minutes to snag a lead it would not relinquish. The Gaels scored the final five points of the half, including a fast-break dunk at the buzzer by Daniss Jenkins, to take a 13-point lead into the break at 45-32.
The second half was all Iona. The Billikens had it to within 12 early in the second half, but that is as close as they would get as the Gaels raced to the 22-point win.
Saint Louis plays its next three games at Chaifetz Arena – Saturday, Dec. 10 vs. Boise State (7 p.m.), Saturday, Dec. 17 vs. Drake (7 p.m.) and Wednesday, Dec. 21 vs. SIUE (7 p.m.). All games will be televised on Bally Sports Midwest.
