Johnson has 28 points, 12 rebounds to help Fairfield defeat Iona 71-54 for 2nd place in MAAC

Fairfield defeats Iona 71-54 to take 2nd in MAAC

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Anthony Johnson scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as Fairfield defeated Iona 71-54 Friday night to determine sole possession of second place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Johnson was 11-for-14 from the field and 6-for-8 from the free throw line for the Stags (19-9, 12-5), who won their 11th home game, the most since the 1977-78 season when they went 17-1.

Fairfield closed out the final 4:13 of the first half on a 10-0 run to lead 34-18 at the break, and the Gaels could get no closer than eight after that.

The Stags scored 22 points off 15 Gaels turnovers while Iona (20-9, 11-6) scored four points off 11 Fairfield miscues.

Derek Needham added 15 points for the Stags, who outshot the Gaels from the field 48.1 percent (26-for-54) to 35.2 percent (19-for-54).

Kyle Smith was the only Iona player in double figures with 12 points.