2020-21 Monmouth Basketball Game Sixteen Preview
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Monmouth Hawks (10-6, 10-5 MAAC) at Iona Gaels (7-5, 5-3 MAAC)
Saturday, February 20, 2021Â - 7:00 p.m. EST
Hynes Center, New Rochelle, NY
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Please find PDF of full notes attached.
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TV
ESPN+
Play-by-Play: Vin Parise
Analyst: Adam FinkelsteinÂ
RADIO
Monmouth Digital Network:Â http://flyhawks.co/MBBGm17Radio
Play-by-Play:
Eddy Occhipinti
Analyst: Steve Bazaz
SCOUTING THE GAELS
Iona is 5-3 in the MAAC and have won five of the last seven. Prior to last weekend against Manhattan, the Gaels had a 51-day pause, the longest in the nation this season.
IONA HEAD COACH RICK PITINO
In his first year at Iona, Hall of Famer Rick Pitino has seven wins to his credit with the Gaels. A two-time national champion, Pitino is in his 33rd season as a college basketball head coach and has coached three different schools to the NCAA Final Four.
MONMOUTH ON THE ROAD
The Hawks are playing on the road for the third
consecutive weekend in which they have had games scheduled, and come off their first road sweep of the season at Manhattan. MU is 3-4 away from home this season.
IONA AT HOME
The Gaels are 3-2 at the Hynes Center this season, with wins over MU, Coppin State and Manhattan. This marks just the second home weekend for the Gaels in MAAC play this season.Â
SERIES NOTES
-The teams met for the first time in 1982.
-Monmouth and Iona have played 18 times in MAAC competition.
-The teams have split the last six meetings.
-Monmouth is 4-5 all time in New Rochelle, and 4-4 as MAAC opponents.
RUTH WITH A CAREER BESTÂ
Freshman point guard
Myles Ruth continued to impress, posting his first career double-figure scoring effort on 2/19 at Iona with 13 points, a career best. He hit a big three in Monmouth's second-half run, and also grabbed five rebounds, tying a career best.
MELIK MARTIN PLAYING HIS BEST BALL
Melik Martin is averaging a double-double in the last four games, and posted his third in four games last night. He was named the MAAC Player of the Week following the Manhattan series in which he was a half rebound shy of averaging a double-double for the two games. He posted a double-double in the second game with 14 and 10 after going for 18 and nine the prior night. He is coming off his first career double-double on 1/30 against Niagara with 14 points and 11 rebounds. In the last nine games, he has scored in double figures seven times (and netted nine points in the one he fell short of doubles vs. Quinnipiac), and is averaging 15.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, has 13 steals and is shooting 50% from the field. Martin has made a whopping 53 field goals in the last nine contests, including 14 triples, and has blocked three shots while dishing out 16 assists.
