Box Score Lawrenceville, NJ - The Iona College men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaking 68-63 overtime decision to Rider in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at Alumni Gym. The Broncs' (13-6, 6-2 MAAC) Ryan Thompson hit a layup at the buzzer to force the extra frame. Senior Devon Clarke's first career double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds) led the Gaels (7-13, 3-5 MAAC) in the loss.

The Gaels jumped out to an early 10-2 lead a little over four minutes into the game, punctuated by two of senior Kyle Camper's four three point field goals. Rider stormed back with a 9-0 run over the next three minutes. The two teams traded buckets and defensive stops for the remainder of the half. The Gaels never led after Rider took a 13-12 advantage at the 12:28 mark but they did not allow the home team to lead by more than four points in the half. Both teams struggled to find the basket in the final minutes of the first half. Rider's last field goal came with just under five minutes to play while Clarke's layup at 2:45 served as the Gaels' last bucket. Rider led by just two points (24-22) at halftime.

Iona came out of the locker room with a tenacious defensive strategy that paid off as the team went on a 16-7 run to open the first five minutes. A 7-0 run during the time frame was ended on Mike Ringgold's dunk at 15:11. The Gaels continued to hold on to a single digit lead over the next nine minutes. A 9-2 Rider run from 7:58-6:12 knotted the score at 47-47. Both teams' full court pressure defenses caused havoc over the final few minutes.

Rider took a 54-53 lead with 1:24 to play on two Harris Mansell free throws. Mansell was fouled by Milan Prodanovic on a breakaway attempt. Ringgold and senior Dexter Gray were called for double-technicals as the two teams exchanged pleasantries after the Prodanovic foul. The stoppage in play resulted in the fifth personal foul for both Gray and Prodanovic. After trading missed buckets, the Gaels continued to trail by a point. With 23 seconds to go, Camper hit a tough baseline runner to give Iona the lead. After Mansell missed a three point attempt on the ensuing possession, junior Gary Springer came up with the defensive rebound and was fouled. He hit one of two free throw attempts to put Iona ahead by a bucket with 5.5 ticks remaining. Keying on senior Jason Thompson as the Broncs' go-to scoring threat, Ryan Thompson was able to slip past the Gael defense to tie the score and force overtime as the clock expired.

The Broncs took advantage of a 9-for-10 showing from the free throw line in overtime. Their lone field goal proved to be the backbreaker as Mansell drained a long three pointer to break a 58-58 tie. Iona was 2-for-8 from field in overtime and 3-for-6 from the free throw line.

Camper scored a career-high 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting while draining the four three pointers in the contest. Springer added 10 points and seven rebounds in the loss.

Mansell's 21 and Ryan Thompson's 20 points paced the Broncs.

Iona returns to action on Thursday night at home against Marist. The Gaels and Red Foxes tip off at 7:30 pm at the Hynes Center.