Can No. 6 Manhattan hang with the dynamic offense of No. 4 Iona? Iona ranked 2nd in the nation in scoring with 81.4 points per game; averaging over 20 points more per game than Manhattan (58.3 PPG) this season.
No. 4 Iona defeated No. 1 Niagara 79-73 while No. 6 Manhattan defeated No. 7 Fairfield 60-42 Sunday to advance to Monday’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament Championship Game.
Manhattan did upset Iona 74-73 at home in the last meeting between these two teams. Even with that loss Iona is 8-4 SU and 6-5-1 ATS in its last 12 games against Manhattan.
Supporters of the Jaspers have watched them go 14-17 and 18-11 ATS on the year, while the Gaels are at 19-13 and 15-15 ATS. In totals betting, the Gaels are 16-10, while the Jaspers have a 9-16 mark.
View Manhattan vs Iona Odds and Stats.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Gaels - Jaspers odds would favor the Gaels if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Iona is rated No. 180 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Manhattan is at No. 212. Mathematical models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 74-67 win for the Gaels.
How They Match Up:
Scoring and defensive stats point to some edges in this matchup. The game features Iona's No. 2-ranked scoring average of 81.3 PPG, against a Jaspers defense rated No. 35 and allowing 59.9 PPG. The Gaels FG% has averaged 45.7% to date this season, more than the Jaspers shooters have managed so far (40.8% per game).
Defensively, Manhattan features the nation's No. 48-rated defense on the road, allowing 63.9 points per game. Iona, meanwhile, comes in at No. 2 nationally in scoring at home.
Manhattan was a 60-42 Sportsbook in their most recent outing at home against Fairfield. They covered the 2-point spread as underdogs. Emmy Andujar scored 16 points leading the Jaspers to a 60-42 victory over Fairfield at MassMutual Center on Sunday.
Last time out for Iona, they were a 79-73 Sportsbook as they battled Niagara on the road. They covered in the match as a 3-point favorite. Iona got 20 points and 17 rebounds from David Laury en route to a 79-73 victory over Niagara on Sunday at MassMutual Center.
