Pickett scores 24 points as Manhattan holds off late Iona rally in a 66-60 victory

Pickett’s 24 leads Manhattan past Iona 66-60

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Rico Pickett scored 24 points and Manhattan held off a late Iona rally in a 66-60 win on Friday night.

Darryl Crawford finished with 14 points and Mohammed Koita had 10 points and a team-high six rebounds for the Jaspers (9-16, 4-11 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference), who went into halftime with an 18-point lead and held a 47-32 advantage with 12:26 left in the second half.

Pickett shot 8 of 17 from the floor, 6 of 9 from the free throw line and hit two 3-pointers.

The Gaels (18-8, 10-5) chipped away at Manhattan’s lead, cutting the margin to 62-59 with 22 seconds left on Kyle Smyth’s 3-pointer. But the Jaspers responded by making their free throws down the stretch to pull away.

Smyth led Iona with 12 points and Scott Machado added 11. Rashon Dwight grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.