POUGHKEEPSIE, NY -The Iona College men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaking 51-50 decision to Marist in its 2008 MAAC opener at the McCann Center.  The Red Foxes (3-4, 1-0 MAAC) scored the games final five points to earn the one-point win over the Gaels (2-4, 0-1 MAAC).

Marist took and early 11-point lead just over four minutes into the contest.  A Javon Parris three pointer gave the home team its largest lead of the contest at 13-2 at the 15:44 mark.  Iona did not allow the Red Foxes to extend its lead, hung around and went into halftime down 26-18.

The Gaels continued to chip away, only to have Marist answer with a big three pointer.  With a 30-25 lead, Ryan Schneider hit a three pointer with the shot clock winding down to extend the margin back to eight points with 15:26 to play.   The Maroon & Gold clamped down on defense and went on a 9-0 run over the next 6:57 to erase its deficit and take a one-point lead.  Sophomore Rashon Dwight gave the Gaels a 34-33 advantage at 9:05.  Marist quickly scored the next six points to regain a five-point advantage with 7:55 remaining.

It was then Iona's turn to make a run.  A 12-2 run put the Gaels ahead by five with 2:11 to go.  A wild series of events then ensued, most in the home teams favor.  Schneider again beat the shot clock with a step back three pointer at 1:40 to cut the Iona lead to two points.  After a Kashif Pratt runner put the squad up by four, Parris was fouled and went to the line for two.  After hitting the first and missing the second, he got his own rebound and was fouled again.  Another 1-for-2 made the score 50-48 in favor of Iona with 16 seconds left. The Red Fox pressure defense caused a turnover in the backcourt and gave the home team possesion with the chance to tie.  Parris was fouled for the third straight time.  He made the first to make it a one point game with six seconds left.   Iona was unable to corale the rebound when Pariss' second shot rimmed out and the ball went out of bounds to Marist again.   Dejuan Goodwin hit a jumper off the inbound to put the Red Foxes ahead 51-50 with 1.4 ticks left.   The Gaels were able to get the ball over half court and quickly call time out and call a play with 1.2 left.  The inbound pass was tipped by the Marist defender and time expired leaving Iona with its second one-point loss in the last three games.

Senior Devon Clarke scored all 11 of his points in the second half to spark Iona's comeback attempt. He was 3-of-6 from the field and 5-of-5 from the line.  Dwight and rookie point guard Scott Machado each had nine points to back up Clarke's effort. Iona was 0-for-10 from behind the three point line, marking just the second time in the last 343 games Iona failed to connect from downtown.

Iona is back in action on Sunday afternoon when they take on Fairfield at 3:30 pm.