Manhattan Takes MAAC Tourney Title

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Ashton Pankey had 21 points and 10 rebounds, Emmy Andujar added 18 points and 11 rebounds, and third-seeded Manhattan beat top-seeded Iona 79-69 on Monday night to win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title for the second straight year.

It was the third straight time the New York City rivals had met for the MAAC tournament title and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, and the defending champion Jaspers (19-13) rallied late to win it again.

Iona (26-8) was 17-3 in the conference in the regular season, posting two close wins over Manhattan.

The Jaspers closed the season with 17 wins against five losses and had won six of seven, its last loss coming at Iona 10 days ago.

Donovan Kates had 13 points and Shane Richards 11 for the Jaspers. Pankey earned the tournament's MVP honors.