Casimir has 20 points, Iona turns back Manhattan 78-65

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Schadrac Casimir had five 3-pointers and 20 points and Iona pulled away from Manhattan for a 78-65 win on Saturday night.

The game between the two closest Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference rivals was played at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum as the nightcap in the NYCB Live league tripleheader.

Five other players scored 10 to 12 points for the Gaels (13-8, 7-2), who are now a half-game out of first.

A 10-0 run starting midway through the first half helped Iona to a 35-27 halftime lead.

The Jaspers (10-12, 5-5), down 13 in the second half, got as close as four and trailed by five after a pair of Zavier Turner free throws with 1:25 left. But a turnover and two missed shots closed out Manhattan while Casimir knocked down a 3 and Zach Lewis made four free throws in the last minute.

Turner and Zane Waterman scored 18 points each for the Jaspers with Waterman grabbing 12 boards.