NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Senior Alejo Rodriguez (New York, NY) and juniors Mike Glover (Bronx, NY) and Scott Machado (Queens, NY) recorded double-doubles while Machado recorded his 1,000 career point in the Iona College men’s basketball team’s 85-67 win over Manhattan in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Hynes Athletics Center. Machado became the ninth junior, 12th underclassman and 31st player in school history to reach the millennia mark with his jumper from the foul line to open the team’s scoring in the second half.
The Gaels opened up the contest with field goals in its first five possessions to open up a 12-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. The run extended to 17-3 until Manhattan freshman Michael Alvarado’s three-pointer at 13:42 gave the visitors their first field goal of the contest. A conventional three-point play by Glover gave the Gaels their largest lead of the frame at 30-41 with 7:25 to play. The Jaspers battled back to within nine but a Machado three pointer and an ally-oop by Glover from junior Trinity Fields (Queens, NY) in the final minute put the Gaels back ahead by double-digits as the Gaels led 44-32 at the half.
The Jaspers picked up the pace to open the second half, and outscored Iona 15-8 to cut the deficit to 52-47 at 15:12. Alvarado got Manhattan back to within five at 12:07. Another 12-0 run by the Gaels over the next nearly four minutes was capped by a three-pointer by rookie Sean Armand (Brooklyn, NY) and gave Iona a 70-53 advantage and a double-digit lead it would not relinquish. Junior Randy Dezouvre (Montreal, Quebec) put the Maroon & Gold ahead by 21 points with under a minute to play before a three-point play by Alvarado finished the scoring and the 18-point, 85-67 win for the Gaels.
Glover had 20 points and 10 rebounds as he reached the 20 and 10 mark for the first time in seven games. It was his 14th double-double of the season. Rodriguez posted his second straight double-digit point effort and his first double-double of the year with 11 points and 10 boards. Machado posted his seventh double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 assists. He is the first Iona junior since Steve Burtt in 2005 to reach the 1,000 point mark for his career. Armand came off the bench and provided 17 points with five three-point field goals. He also recorded a season-best five rebounds and 29 minutes played in the effort.
Alvarado had a career-best 25 points with the help of a 9-for-10 effort from the free-throw line. Graduate Demetrius Jemison had 16 points and 13 rebounds, while sophomore George Beamon and junior Kidani Brutus each reached double-digit point totals with 12 and 10 respectively.
Iona outshot (47.8%-42.9%) and outrebounded (41-30) Manhattan in the contest to help extend their Hynes Center record to 9-2 on the season. It was the ninth game of the year with 20+ assists with 22 and the first in nine contests.
With the win, the Gaels snapped a season-long four-game losing streak – all coming by four points or less – and improved to 8-0 in games decided by 10 or more points.
Iona completes its two-game homestand on Friday night when they host Siena at 7:00 pm. It’s the second-game of a ESPNU televised doubleheader with the women’s squad taking on Marist at 4:30 pm.
–ICGAELS.COM–