NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- Sean Armand posted his first career double-double as Iona topped Niagara 83-72 Wednesday night in each team's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener.

Armand scored 18 points and pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds for the Gaels (3-2, 1-0). Armand also pitched in five assists, while Curtis Dennis had 17 points and Tre Bowman, Lamont Jones and Tavon Sledge all had 12. Sledge and Jones also had five assists each, with Sledge adding four steals.

Antoine Mason led Niagara (2-4, 0-1) with 24 points, while Ameen Tanksley posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards.

Iona trailed 14-11 when Armand hit a 3 to spark a 19-1 run. The Gaels led by as many as 16, 40-24, but the Purple Eagles slowly chipped the advantage to 67-62 with 5:27 left in the game.

Iona hit 7 of 8 free-throw attempts in the final 4:04, including four by Jones.