The 1979–80 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 1979–80 NCAA Division I men's basketball season.
The Gaels, led by fifth-year head coach Jim Valvano, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center.
11 seed Holy Cross in the opening round[1] – the first and only NCAA Tournament victory in school history.
2 Louisville’s 18-game winning streak by dominating the Cardinals, 77–60, at Madison Square Garden.
[4] It was the last game Louisville would lose during the season en route to winning the 1980 NCAA Championship.