NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a blistering start and a resilient finish, the Mount Saint Mary’s Mountaineers snapped a two-game skid and completed a regular-season sweep of the Iona Gaels with an 83-76 victory in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball on Saturday at a spirited Hynes Center.

The Mountaineers, who had lost to Iona just over a month ago but avenged that defeat on their home floor in late December, used a near-perfect opening sequence to seize control and then weathered multiple second-half surges from the Gaels to secure the road win.

The most critical phase of the contest came in the opening minutes, as Mount Saint Mary’s executed with stunning efficiency. The Mountaineers won the opening tip and senior forward Abdou Khadre Kébé, a native of Dakar, Senegal, immediately sank a three-pointer on the game’s first possession. After an Iona miss, Kébé connected from deep again, this time assisted by London native Luke McEldon. Before the Gaels could find any offensive rhythm, the visitors had raced to a 6-0 lead, setting a decisive tone.

Iona, which entered the game with a 74% probability of winning according to Interstat’s ELO system, struggled to match the Mountaineers’ early intensity. The Gaels missed their first four shots and committed two turnovers before finally getting on the board nearly two minutes into the game. Mount Saint Mary’s continued its hot shooting, building a double-digit lead midway through the first half and ultimately taking a 39-34 advantage into halftime.

The statistical story of the first half, and indeed the game, was shooting accuracy. Mount Saint Mary’s shot 50% from the field for the game, including 11 of 28 from three-point range. Iona, by contrast, managed only a 42.4% clip overall and was a frigid 9 of 33 from beyond the arc. The Mountaineers also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 22 of 30 attempts compared to Iona’s 17 of 24.

Iona’s star forward Lamin Sabally of Berlin, Germany, kept his team within striking distance, finishing with a team-high 20 points. The Gaels made several pushes in the second half, closing the gap to four points on multiple occasions, often fueled by the playmaking of CJ Anthony from Columbus, Ohio, who tallied 14 points and eight assists.

Each time, however, Mount Saint Mary’s had an answer. The Mountaineers displayed a balanced scoring attack, with four players reaching double figures. McEldon, the 6-foot-10 center, led the way with 17 points. Guard Arlandus Keyes of Florissant, Missouri, added 15 points, while Trey Deveaux contributed 17 points off the bench. Anthony Arrington provided a crucial spark with 11 points in just 16 minutes of action.

The Mountaineers’ backcourt control was pivotal. Point guard Xavier Lipscomb, despite scoring only eight points, orchestrated the offense with eight assists against only two turnovers, helping his team commit just 10 turnovers total against an Iona squad that managed only four. The Mountaineers’ offensive rating of 131.2 points per 100 possessions underscored their efficient night.

Iona’s efforts were hampered by cold shooting from its supporting cast. Denver Anglin of Montclair, New Jersey, scored 11 points but needed 11 shots to do so, while Luke Jungers of Omaha, Nebraska, added 12 points. The Gaels won the battle in the paint 30-26 and on fast breaks 10-5, but could not overcome their perimeter shooting woes.

With the win, Mount Saint Mary’s improves to 11-15 overall and evens its MAAC record. Iona falls to 14-11. The Mountaineers will look to build on the victory when they travel to face Rider next Friday. Iona, meanwhile, will aim to regroup on the road at Canisius the same night.