"I didn't come to Iona for Mediocrity I came for Greatness". Thats Head Basketball Coach Rick Pitino after Gaels win 88-76 over rival Manhattan College. Gaels went off to 11-2 run on points driving the lane, Jasper closed to 26-24 later in first half, but Iona answered with an 18-3 run taking a 44-27 lead late in half. Iona forward Nelly Jr Joseph played just 11 mins scoring 13 pts in game due to foul trouble. Fresh Trey James played 9 minutes scoring 4 pts and Osborne Sherma played 16 mins and had 7 pts so position had 24 pts. Grad student Tyson Jolly led with 16 pts on 7-10 shooting plus 6 assists. Dylan Van Eyck was 3-3 with 2 threes mostly splitting the 3 small forward role with Quinn Slazinki who made 2 threes for 6 points. Coach Pitino saw improvement in point guard grad student Elijah Joiner who was 4-5 shooting for 11 pts. Gaels outshot Manhattan 61% to 38% although Coach Pitino was critical of his teams foul shooting, just 21-38 55% commenting that "We won't make NCAA Tournament with that type of foul shooting. Gaels are back in action Sunday facing MAAC rival Niagara. Ken Kraetzer for SALRADIO