ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - Iona University has captured the 2023 Hercules Tires Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men's Basketball Championship title on Saturday night at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. The top-seeded Gaels defeated No. 11 Marist College, 76-55, claiming the program's MAAC-leading 14th Championship crown.
No. 1 Iona never trailed in a 76-55, wire-to-wire win over No. 11 Marist in the MAAC Championship final on Saturday night. The Gaels controlled the game from the opening tip and never looked in the rearview mirror. Iona controlled the opening half, leading for the entire frame. Tied at 2-2, the Gaels scored the game's next eight points to go ahead 10-2. Marist would cut the deficit to four points but Iona scored five straight to push the lead to nine, owning a 15-6 lead. The Gaels maintained the advantage, keeping the Red Foxes no closer than a handful of points. With 1:51 to play in the half, Ibine Ayo Sadiku (6'7''-F) knocked down a three for Iona to extend the lead to its largest of the half at 11 points (33-22). The Gaels would take a 35-26 advantage into the locker. Marist battled back in the second, opening up the final period with a 20-9 run over the first 9:35 to knot the game at 46-46. Capping off the run was a triple from the wing by Kam Farris (6'3''-G-2001) off a screen which made the near 4,000 fans in Boardwalk Hall erupt. Despite the Red Foxes' run, Marist would fail to take the lead and that would be the closest they got in the final. For the remainder of the game, Iona outscored Marist by a wide margin of 30-9, leading to the 76-55 win. Iona has now won 14 straight games, dating back to Jan. 27 and has compiled 27 total wins on the season. The victory clinched the program's second title in the past three years and seventh over the last 11 years since 2013. Iona's Daniss Jenkins (6'3''-G) scored a game-high 27 points, earning the championship's Most Valuable Player award. Walter Clayton Jr. (6'2''-G) Jr. also surpassed double-digit scoring for the Gaels, ending the game with 17 points and six rebounds. For Marist, Patrick Gardner (6'11''-C) finished his night with 23 points and Kam Farris added 12 points in the defeat.
Joining Jenkins on the All-Championship Team were teammates Clayton Jr. and Nelly Junior Joseph. All-Championship Team members from runner-up Marist were Isaiah Brickner (6'4''-G/F) and Patrick Gardner. Also making the team were Niagara's Noah Thomasson (6'3''-G) and Saint Peter's Jaylen Murray (5'11''-PG).

Courtesy of maacsports.com

All-Tournament MVP: Daniss Jenkins (6'3''-G) of Iona
Player of the Year: Walter Clayton Jr. (6'2''-G) of Iona
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Berrick Jean-Louis (6'4''-G-1999) of Iona
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Josh Roberts (6'9''-F-1999) of Manhattan
Rookie of the Year: Michael Eley (6'3''-G) of Siena
Sixth Player of the Year: TJ Long (6'4''-G) of Fairfield
Coach of the Year: Rick Pitino of Iona

All-MAAC First Team 2023

Clayton Jr.

Joseph

Nelson

Thomasson

Murray Jr.

First Team
Walter Clayton Jr. (6'2''-G) of Iona
Nelly Joseph (6'9''-F-2001) of Iona
Anthony Nelson (6'4''-G-1998) of Manhattan
Noah Thomasson (6'3''-G) of Niagara
Dwight Murray Jr. (6'0''-PG-2000) of Rider

All-MAAC Second Team 2023

Jenkins

Gardner

Jones

James

Stormo

Second Team
Daniss Jenkins (6'3''-G) of Iona
Patrick Gardner (6'11''-C) of Marist
Dezi Jones (5'10''-PG) of Quinnipiac
Mervin James (6'7''-F-2000) of Rider
Jackson Stormo (6'9''-F) of Siena

All-MAAC Third Team 2023

Henderson

Cook

Roberts

Benjamin

McCollum

Third Team
Jordan Henderson (6'5''-G-1999) of Canisius
Supreme Cook (6'9''-F) of Fairfield
Josh Roberts (6'9''-F-1999) of Manhattan
Jalen Benjamin (5'10''-PG) of Mt.St.Mary's
Javian McCollum (6'2''-G) of Siena

All-MAAC All-Rookie Team 2023

Staveskie

Davis

Brickner

Washington

Eley

All-Rookie Team
Tahj Staveskie (6'0''-PG) of Canisius
Cruz Davis (6'3''-G) of Iona
Isaiah Brickner (6'4''-G/F) of Marist
Corey Washington (6'6''-F) of St.Peter's
Michael Eley (6'3''-G) of Siena

All-Academic Team
Jordan Henderson (6'5''-G-1999) of Canisius
Jack Brown (6'6''-F) of Fairfield
Zach Crisler (6'9''-F) of Fairfield
Mark Henry (5'11''-PG) of Fairfield
Jack Mullally (5'10''-PG) of Fairfield
James Carey (5'10''-PG) of Iona
Osborn Shema (7'0''-F-1998) of Iona
Parker Weiss (6'2''-G) of Iona
Aryan Arora (6'1''-G) of Manhattan
Elijah Buchanan (6'5''-G-1999) of Manhattan
Matthew Glassman (6'0''-PG-1999) of Manhattan
: Daniel Hackett of Manhattan
Logan Padgett (6'6''-G/F) of Manhattan
Daniel Schreier (6'9''-F-1999) of Manhattan
Thomas Botticelli (6'4''-F) of Marist
Frantisek Barton (6'7''-F-2000) of Mt.St.Mary's
Justin Gielen (6'0''-PG) of Mt.St.Mary's
Malik Jefferson (6'9''-F-2000) of Mt.St.Mary's
Xavier Lipscomb (6'2''-G) of Mt.St.Mary's
George Tinsley (6'6''-F-2000) of Mt.St.Mary's
Tymu Chenery (6'6''-G/F) of Quinnipiac
Quinn Guth (6'2''-G) of Quinnipiac
Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (6'8''-F) of Rider
Brent Bland (6'3''-G) of St.Peter's
: Mouhamed Sow of St.Peter's
Michael Baer (6'7''-F-1999) of Siena
Jared Billups (6'4''-G) of Siena
Steven Lazar (6'6''-F) of Siena
Taihland Owens (6'6''-G) of Siena
Jackson Stormo (6'9''-F) of Siena

All-Tournament Team
Daniss Jenkins (6'3''-G) of Iona
Walter Clayton Jr. (6'2''-G) of Iona
Nelly Joseph (6'9''-F-2001) of Iona
Isaiah Brickner (6'4''-G/F) of Marist
Patrick Gardner (6'11''-C) of Marist
Noah Thomasson (6'3''-G) of Niagara
Jaylen Murray (5'11''-PG) of St.Peter's