Iona squanders a 13-point lead with 3 minutes left but escapes with an 80-77 win at Rider

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Sean Armand and A.J. English each scored 20 on Friday night as Iona nearly squandered a 13-point lead with 3 minutes to go, but escaped at Rider 80-77.

Iona (18-8, 15-2 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) held a double-digit lead for most of the second half until Jimmie Taylor's scoring spree for Rider (13-13, 9-8).

Starting with a layup at the 2:55 mark, Taylor scored 10 straight to close the Broncs within 75-72 with 1:01 left.

David Laury ended the run with two free throws for Iona, but Taylor answered with a 3-pointer to make it 77-75.

English made 1 of 2 free throws for Iona with 19.4 seconds remaining, and then Anthony Myles went coast-to-coast for a layup to close Rider within 78-77. But the Broncs would get no closer.

English made two more free throws and Iona got its 10th straight win after Myles missed a final 3-point attempt.