Iona storms back in second half to beat Fairfield 94-87

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (AP) — Tajuan Agee, E.J. Crawford and Asante Gist combined to score 66 points and Rickey McGill had a key 3-point play late as Iona stormed back in the second half to beat Fairfield 94-87 on Saturday.

Agee tied his career high with 23 points and added 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season for the Gaels (4-9, 2-0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference). Crawford finished with 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting with six rebounds and Gist came off the bench to score 21, hitting 5 of 6 from 3-point range.

Iona trailed 51-39 at halftime and the Gaels were still down by 12 with 14:58 remaining in the game, but Gist scored eight in a 10-3 run to pull Iona within 67-62 with 12:41 left. The Gaels upped the run to 21-3 for a 73-67 lead with 9:12 left. The Stags (3-11, 0-2) used a Landon Taliaferro 3-pointer and a Neftali Alvarez layup to take a 78-75 lead. Iona's Ben Perez came up with a steal and fed McGill who was fouled on a layup and sank the free throw to put Iona ahead by four with 42 seconds left.

McGill filled up the stat sheet with 15 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals.

Freshman Felix Lemetti led six Stags in double figures with 18 points, while Taliaferro scored 17. Jesus Cruz had his second career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.