Manhattan’s Herve Banogle horse-collared Iona’s Scott Machado with a flagrant foul that led to punches being thrown and suspensions being levied last night. But while the Jaspers lost their tempers and the game, Iona just focused more on winning than fighting, becoming more poised than before.
The young Gaels rolled 71-51 at the Garden, their defense clearly frustrating the Jaspers. After Alejo Rodriguez’ basket put Iona ahead 18-9, Machado rebounded a miss and took off on a fast break when Banogle horse-collared the freshman guard and threw him to the court.
Rodriguez came over and shoved Banogle, who took a swing at him. Rodriguez punched back.
By time Iona coach Kevin Willard had sprinted across the court and wrapped up his irate player, it was too late to prevent automatic one-game suspensions, but it prevented any more pugilism.
“I believe it did (help). My team came out stronger. After he grabbed me by the neck and floored me, they had my back,” said Machado, who had 13 points and six assists. “We noticed that we came to play and they really didn’t. We didn’t come to fight, we came to win and we did.”
Machado made both ensuing foul shots, then set up Rashon Dwight’s basket for a 22-9 lead. It grew to 34-18 by intermission, and Iona never looked back. Machado led an offense that shot 53.1 percent, and the Gaels’ defense held Manhattan to 5-of-28 shooting in the first half.
“Sometimes your emotions get carried away,” said Willard, 33. “He stepped up for his teammate. I’m not justifying it, but I’d rather lose a guy for standing up for a teammate than for being an idiot.”
Iona (10-10, 5-4 MAAC) – with eight freshmen and three sophomores – has lost five games by a single basket this season, but has won five of six. Meanwhile, the Jaspers (10-9, 4-5) got a game-high 21 from Darryl Crawford, but saw the rest of the team shoot 9-for-45.
“I guess the guys were too anxious about the game. I guess they fed off (the fight), which we needed to do,” Crawford said. “We should’ve fed off it, played tougher and harder, but we didn’t.”
Manhattan coach Barry Rohrssen added “It’s just emotions,” adding of their struggles “maybe the bright lights of the building were too much for some of our guys.”
Iona 71 Manhattan 51
