Iona Prep is able to outlast Stepinac 66-61.

Despite having a six point lead at the half, Stepinac was still not able to come up with the win against Iona Prep at Iona College.

"There was timely offensive rebounds that we gave up," said Head Coach Patrick Massaroni. "Nothing drastically , but those were a big force. They went on a big run from 3:30 to 2:30. That was huge, and you know, I thought we did a pretty good job of defending for three quarters and shooting 65% on the court.

#13 Malcolm Chimezie went down in the first quarter, leaving #0 Justin Morety, and #1 RJ Davis, a North Carolina commit, to take all the pressure, and to score for the team.

"They had 11 steals. I just told them that rebounding and turnovers are our two biggest achilles heels tonight," said Massaroni. "That's what hurt us the most, especially when our guards, Justin and RJ played great. With AJ [Griffin] and Malcolm out, we needed guys to step up, and Justin was that guy. They made some timely threes. Those were killers for us."

"Overall, they outtoughed us in certain situations."

Iona Prep's #3 Marquis Dukes had six steals.

"We have had guys step up and get seven, eight, and only one guy stepped up. We are going to focus on RJ and make other guys step up."

Chimezie and Davis suffered some painful injuries. "Malcolm has an ankle sprain, and RJ is on his way to the hospital for plastic surgery probably, right under his eye."

Davis collided with Iona Prep's #11 Keeshawn Jones and Jones' head went into Davis' cheek.

Davis, in general, got banged up a good amount during the night.

"The offcials did a good job The fouls were even pretty much. We just turned the ball over too much and did not get rebounds."

Iona Prep Gaels (10-9, 3-4) will host Senior Night on Tuesday, at the Prep against Brooklyn power Bishop Loughlin at 4:30.

Stepinac Crusaders (12-7, 9-3) will travel to Middle Village in Queens, to take on Christ the King on Thursday Evening at 5:30. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU.