BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) – Nakiea Miller's second-half domination left
him so exhausted that he had nothing in reserve to celebrate Iona's
third NCAA tournament berth in four years.
As his Gaels' teammates jumped around Buffalo's HSBC Arena
court, enjoying their second straight Metro Atlantic Athletic
Conference title, Miller collapsed from dizziness and had to be
revived with smelling salts.
|  | | Iona's Nakiea Miller, MVP of the MAAC tournament, cuts a piece of the net after the Gaels beat Canisius for a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. |
Miller, the tournament's MVP, matched a career high with 24
points, leading Iona over Canisius 74-67 Monday night.
"I was just so exhausted. I'm out of breath right now," said
Miller, who scored nine points and added two defensive blocks
during the Gaels' decisive 13-1 second-half run. "I'm about to
fall over right now. I'm just barely standing up."
The 6-foot-9 senior center carried the top-seeded Gaels during
the final nine minutes.
After cutting Canisius' lead to 54-53 with a layup, Miller
tipped in consecutive misses and, following Dyree Wilson's
basket, added a turnaround 6-foot jumper from the baseline as the
Gaels eventually opened a 64-55 lead.
"I just knew I had to step it up. If I didn't step it up, we
weren't going to win," Miller said.
Earl Johnson added 20 points and Miller pulled down 15 rebounds
as the top-seeded Gaels (22-10) became the first team to repeat as
MAAC champions since LaSalle won three straight from 1988-90.
"It's always tough the second time, but this feels great,"
said Wilson, who was held to six points. "(The NCAAs) are going
to be better the second time. Last year, everyone was nervous. But
we're looking to win games this time."
Iona also won its conference-leading sixth title in the school's
ninth title championship game appearance.
The seventh-seeded Golden Griffins (20-11), attempting to be the
first team to win four games for the championship, went almost
seven minutes before scoring a basket.
Brian Dux finally ended the drought with a putback, cutting
Iona's lead to 64-57 with 2:28 remaining.
The Golden Griffins cut the lead to 71-67 when Clive Bentick
completed a three-point play with 19.9 seconds left, but Johnson
responded by sinking two free throws.
"Their defense, I thought in the second half, really hurt us.
We just couldn't score," Golden Griffins coach Mike MacDonald.
"There are a lot of guys crying in there. I was just crying in
there. I wasn't crying because we lost, I'm upset because it could
be the last time we're together."
His was a special group that finished its season winning
nine of its last 12, and reached the title game beating
second-seeded Niagara and third-seeded Siena, which finished in a
three-way tie for first with Iona in the regular-season standings.
Canisius was attempting to become only the third school seeded
seventh or lower to win the title.
Bentick led Canisius with 14 points.
Fenn finished with 10 rebounds, giving him 48 in four games,
eclipsing a tournament record shared by LaSalle's Lionel Simmons
and Fordham's Sanford Jenkins, who each had 38 in the 1990
tournament.
Fenn tied the record with his 15-rebound performance in Sunday's
76-64 semifinal win over Siena.
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Canisius Clubhouse
Iona Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Iona's Nakiea Miller gets the ball inside for the jam.
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Clive Bentick scores and gets fouled as he tries to get Canisius back in the game.
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Iona's Dyree Wilson is fouled as he knocks down the jumper from the top of the key.
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RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Off the turnover, Phil Grant goes end-to-end for a Gaels' basket and foul.
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 Iona coach Jeff Ruland expresses his love towards his team following their victory.
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