North Carolina Begins The NCAA Tornament With Iona

On Friday night North Carolina out the Atlantic Coast Conference who is a one seed in the Midwest Region will open the NCAA Tournament with Iona who is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and a sixteen seed in the NCAA Tournament in Columbus Ohio.

North Carolina comes into the game with a record of 27-6 while Iona comes into the game with a record of 17-15.

As for North Carolina’s previous game they were topped by Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Championship in Charlotte.

Zion Williamson had the go-ahead tip-in on his own miss with 30.3 seconds left and fifth-ranked Duke held off third-ranked North Carolina 74-73 on Friday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference semifinals.”“according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/15/mens-basketball-acc-tournament-semifinal-vs-duke.aspx

Williamson had 31 points and 11 rebounds and the Blue Devils (28-5) survived a fight with their fierce rival in a classic that went down to the final play. Ultimately Duke hung on, but needed a final stop. After RJ Barrett missed two free throws with 12.4 seconds left, UNC pushed downcourt for Coby White to get a contested long jumper. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/15/mens-basketball-acc-tournament-semifinal-vs-duke.aspx

The shot rattled around the rim and out as Nassir Little crashed the glass for a desperate tip attempt, sending Duke's bench into celebration and leaving a disappointed White crouching at midcourt. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/15/mens-basketball-acc-tournament-semifinal-vs-duke.aspx

Cameron Johnson had 23 points for the Tar Heels (27-6). They shot 40 percent and led by four in the final three minutes but couldn't hold on.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/15/mens-basketball-acc-tournament-semifinal-vs-duke.aspx

Unlike North Carolina Iona won their previous game as they defeated Monmouth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Championship

The Iona College men's basketball program won its unprecedented fourth straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship on Monday night at the Times Union Center. The top-seeded Gaels defeated No. 6 Monmouth, 81-60 to cut down the nets for the 12th time in program history. “according to https://icgaels.com/news/2019/3/11/mens-basketball-maacchamps-iona-wins-fourth-straight-maac-championship.aspx

Senior Rickey McGill finishes his career as the only student-athlete in MAAC history to win four MAAC rings. The MAAC Championship's Most Valuable Player finishes his Maroon & Gold career with a perfect 12-0 record. “according to https://icgaels.com/news/2019/3/11/mens-basketball-maacchamps-iona-wins-fourth-straight-maac-championship.aspx

Iona led by double-digits for portions of the first half but entered the locker room with a slimmer 36-30 lead. Then the second half began and the Gaels went into full-throttle mode. Iona outscored Monmouth in the second half 45-30 and a monstrous 20-2 run gave a cushion that'd last till the final buzzer. “according to https://icgaels.com/news/2019/3/11/mens-basketball-maacchamps-iona-wins-fourth-straight-maac-championship.aspx

Junior Asante Gist came up in the biggest fulcrum moment of the game. Monmouth cut the lead down to three, 41-38, with a Nick Rutherford three. On Iona's next trip down the court, Gist buried a three to put the Gaels back up two possessions. “according to https://icgaels.com/news/2019/3/11/mens-basketball-maacchamps-iona-wins-fourth-straight-maac-championship.aspx

So began the decisive run. “according to https://icgaels.com/news/2019/3/11/mens-basketball-maacchamps-iona-wins-fourth-straight-maac-championship.aspx

Juniors E.J. Crawford and Tajuan Agee scored fast break buckets to put Iona up 52-38. Gist then shut the door with back-to-back three-pointers. The Maroon & Gold made seven of their first nine shots in the second half. “according to https://icgaels.com/news/2019/3/11/mens-basketball-maacchamps-iona-wins-fourth-straight-maac-championship.aspx

McGill and Agee each picked up their fourth personal fouls midway through the second. With their leading guard and premiere post presence having to take a seat, the Maroon & Gold held a 64-42 edge. When McGill reentered the game with 3:07 left, they still maintained a 20+ point lead. “according to https://icgaels.com/news/2019/3/11/mens-basketball-maacchamps-iona-wins-fourth-straight-maac-championship.aspx

Iona didn't make a field goal from 9:16 till 2:40 but nailed free throws down the stretch. The Hawks made just three buckets during the timespan. “according to https://icgaels.com/news/2019/3/11/mens-basketball-maacchamps-iona-wins-fourth-straight-maac-championship.aspx

Gist finished the game with a team-high 22 points. He matched his scoring total in the MAAC semifinal against Siena. McGill scored 10 points and pulled down four rebounds with three assists. Crawford scored 15 points, hitting nine free throws. Agee scored 18 and pulled down seven boards. Junior Ben Perez scored 14 in a team-high 35:10 minutes. “according to https://icgaels.com/news/2019/3/11/mens-basketball-maacchamps-iona-wins-fourth-straight-maac-championship.aspx

Iona shot 46.2% in the game and a sizzling 52.9% in the second half. It his 41.4% from beyond the arc and 84.0% from the free throw line.”according to https://icgaels.com/news/2019/3/11/mens-basketball-maacchamps-iona-wins-fourth-straight-maac-championship.aspx

The Maroon & Gold had 23 points of 15 Monmouth turnovers. Iona had 11 steals, including junior Perez swiping a career-best five. Agee & McGIll each had three.”according to https://icgaels.com/news/2019/3/11/mens-basketball-maacchamps-iona-wins-fourth-straight-maac-championship.aspx

The Hawks shot 41.6% from the floor but struggled immensely in the second half. They shot 34.4% from the field and 23.5% from deep in final frame. Diago Quinn was the lone Monmouth student-athlete to finish in double-figures with 13 points. “according to https://icgaels.com/news/2019/3/11/mens-basketball-maacchamps-iona-wins-fourth-straight-maac-championship.aspx

Tip-off is set for 9:20pm from Nationwide Arena that is home to the Columbus Blue Jackets Of The National Hockey League. The game will be televised on TNT.