NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (AP)—Alex Franklin scored 22 points and Edwin Ubiles had 21 points and Siena defeated Iona 75-60 on Monday night to clinch at least a tie for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular-season title.
Franklin added 11 rebounds and Kenny Hasbrouck had 14 points for the visiting Saints (21-6, 15-1 MAAC), winners of seven in a row against the Gaels.
Gary Springer scored 16 points and Scott Machado and Jermel Jenkins each had nine for Iona (12-15, 7-9), which has lost five of its past seven games.
Franklin had 15 points and Ubiles 11, and Siena closed the first half with a 14-2 run to take a 37-24 lead at the break.
Iona’s Rashon Dwight scored with 6:40 left in the game to cut the Saints’ lead to 59-54, but the Gaels came no closer.
Siena shot 51 percent from the floor while holding the Gaels to 37.5 percent.
Iona committed 24 turnovers in the game, with the Saints gaining the edge in points off turnovers 29-15.
Siena, with two regular season MAAC games to go, can finish no worse than tied for first. Only Niagara, at 12-3 with three league games left, has a chance to catch Siena for a share of the conference title. Siena plays at Niagara on Feb. 27.
