Sacred Heart and Iona will meet Thursday night in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament first-round game. Iona enters the matchup with the stronger overall record at 18-13, while Sacred Heart sits at 13-18 but has shown improved play down the stretch, as there isn't much to separate these teams during MAAC play. Before the MAACtion begins from Atlantic City, you can continue reading to find my Sacred Heart vs Iona prediction here.
Pick: Iona -2.5 ATS PRO
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Iona has produced a solid 18-13 record and has generally played its best basketball at home, where the Gaels have won the majority of their games. But they won't be at home again this season, as they are playing neutral-site hoops from here on out. Sacred Heart, meanwhile, finished the regular season with signs of progress after a difficult start and enters the matchup with confidence after several competitive performances in conference play.
Sacred Heart plays a faster style and averages more points per game than Iona, but the Pioneers also give up a higher scoring average on defense. Iona has been more balanced on both ends and is capable of controlling tempo, which could prove valuable in a postseason setting where possessions become more important.
Iona
Sacred Heart
Stat | Sacred Heart | Iona |
|---|---|---|
Points per game | 75.6 | 73.6 |
Points allowed per game | 76.7 | 72.5 |
Team Field Goal % | 43% | 44% |
Rebounds Per Game | 35.1 | 35.6 |
Assists Per Game | 14.7 | 13.9 |
Score Projection: Sacred Heart 74 – Iona 79 ATS PRO
Win Probability: Sacred Heart 44%, Iona 56% ATS PRO
I am going to lay the points with Iona in this MAAC tournament opener from New Jersey. The Gaels have dominated this event historically. And while they are not as good as they have been in previous years, the Gaels should still be able to get an important victory to advance to round two against a team they have already defeated by double-digits once this season.
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