St. Joe's vs Iona: Hawks look to stay above .500

The St. Jospeh's Hawks will look to snap a two-game losing streak on Friday when they host the Iona Gaels. The Hawks lost to both Villanova and Fairfield prior to the holiday, dropping their record for the season to 5-4.

St. Joe's will still be without Halil Kanacevic due to his two-game suspension, he was suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct during after the Villanova game and will be eligible to return on Dec. 31. They will also be missing sophomore Evan Maschmeyer who has been out with a fractured right hand. Maschmeyer is just returning to shooting drills in practice, and will likely be out for a few more weeks before he returns to game action.

Iona enters the game at 6-5 and they are the only team in Division I with a pair of players averaging at least 20 points per game. Lamont Jones and David Laury combine for over half of the Gaels offense, so stopping them will be a key for St. Joe's.

Iona defeated St. Joe's in an exciting double overtime game last season, 104-99. Carl Jones scored 25 points for the Hawks in that one, with Ronald Roberts Jr. chipping in with 20 points as well. That game was played at Iona.