FORT MYERS, FL – Senior Tre Bowman posted a career-high 29 points and the Iona College men’s basketball team shot nearly 56 percent from the field and hit 14 three point field goals in a 90-72 win over Florida Gulf Coast University in non-conference action at Alico Arena. The Gaels snapped a seven-game losing streak in their opponent’s building with the victory.
A furious scoring pace for both teams to start the game saw FGCU take a 16-14 lead just over four minutes in. Trailing 22-20 at the midway point, sophomore A.J. English hit a three-pointer from the wing to give the Gaels the lead for good. Following a Filip Cvjeticanin put back at the eight minute mark, Iona went on a 12-2 run over the next 3:29 capped by a Bowman trifecta to take a 44-32 advantage. The Maroon & Gold led by as many as 15 points with 79 seconds left in the half on another Bowman three-pointer. A Brett Comer free throw and a mid-range jumper by Chase Fieler made the score 52-40 at the half.
Back-to-back Cvjeticanin three pointers to open the second half got the home team within eight points but that was as close as FGCU would get with 18:29 remaining. Bowman answered with another three pointer 27 seconds later and spark a 16-4 run over the next five and a half minutes as Iona led 70-50 with 12:38 on the clock. Senior Sean Armand hit a three-pointer with 7:33 to go to give the Maroon & Gold its largest lead, 78-54.
Bowman’s career day came on 11-of-13 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 from long distance. He added five rebounds, three steals and two assists. Armand posted 20 points, five rebounds and two assists while English had 13 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals in the win. Junior David Laury was the fourth Gael in double-figures with 11 points and a team-high seven boards.
Iona shot 59.4% (19-of-32) in the first half and 51.9% (14-for-27) in the second. They were 14-of-27 (51.9%) from beyond the arc for the game. FGCU ended the contest with a 49.2% field goal conversion rate and was out rebounded 32-31.
Comer posted a team-high 20 points and eight assists. Bernard Thompson had 17 points with most coming in the final 10 minutes of the contest. Cvjeticanin had a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double while leading scorer Chase Fieler had 14 points and six boards in the loss.
The Gaels return to the Hynes Center Wednesday night in their 2013-14 MAAC opener against Marist.
Box Score: http://www.icgaels.com/fls/14900/stats/mbasketball/2013-14/ion1201.htm
Iona MBB Cumulative Stats: http://www.icgaels.com/fls/14900/stats/mbasketball/2013-14/teamcume.pdf
