Play.
The upset win for Iona was secured by Berrick JeanLouis.
Berrick JeanLouis denied that he helped the Gaels upset the Tide. (0:17)
8:06 PM
Iona became the first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference team to beat an AP Top 10 team when they defeated Alabama on Thursday.
Iona won the opening-round game of the event on the strength of key free throws by Junior Joseph and Walter Clayton Jr.
With 20 seconds left, Clayton made one of two free throws to make it 70-68. Joseph secured the win with two free throws after Quinerly missed a shot.
The MAAC teams have a poor record against Top 10 teams. Pitino has beaten a top 10 team at four different schools.
Pitino said he was happy for the guys. They are great to work with. I'm happy for them.
Iona had four players with 13 points: Tyson Jolly, Elijah Joiner, and Quinn Slazinski. Alabama got 19 points from Jaden Shackelford. Quinerly added 15.
It was one of the first goals that we achieved. Our goal was to start the year with a perfect record.
Joiner hit a 3 to put Iona up 69-65, but Shackelford hit a 3 to make it a one-point game with 56 seconds to go.
Joseph made two free throws during the 11-3 run. Iona's Jolly made a 3 at the 4 minute mark to put the Iona ahead 62-59. The 3 by Shackelford put Alabama ahead.
Iona did not have a field goal in the second half. Alabama was up 33-29 at the half, which was the same lead as the opening 20 minutes.
Iona needed to limit Alabama's 3-point production. The Tide made four tries.
"If we could limit them from a large number of 3s, I felt we had a chance,'' Pitino said. Alabama averaged 10.8 3-pointers a game.
The loss to Alabama in the first round of last season's NCAA Tournament was payback for the Gaels.
Iona will play in a semifinal Friday against the winner of the Drake-Belmont game while Alabama will play the loser of that game in the consolation round.
The Associated Press contributed to the story.
