Box Score BRIDGEPORT, CT - Fairfield sophomore Warren Edney's three pointer with less than four seconds to play was the difference in the Iona College men's basketball team's 78-76 loss to the Stags in MAAC play at the Arena at Harbor Yard.  The Gaels (2-5, 0-2 MAAC) erased an 11-point second half deficit on the prior possession, but could not hold on and suffered their third defeat by two points or less in the last four contests.

Iona jumped out to an 12-8 lead a little more than five minutes into the game on a nifty layup by freshman Derek Wolfley off a feed from teammate Devon Clarke at the 14:58 mark.  The Stags scored the games next 12 points and held on to the lead until the waning moments in the contest.  The Gaels trailed by as many as 12 in the first frame with 5:47 to play.  Iona scored seven straight over the next 1:45 to cut the margin to 31-26.  Clarke scored the first five points of the run that was capped by a Kashif Pratt baseline runner.  Fairfield stretched its lead back to nine points heading into halftime.

The Maroon & Gold came out of the break scoring six straight.  Junior Jonathan Huffman drained a long three pointer from the wing to cut the deficit to just three points at 17:47.  The home team answered however and would not led Iona get any closer.  The lead was quickly back to seven after two straight turnovers by the Gaels led to four points for the Stags.  Iona trailed by 10 points with 5:20 to play and began its furious comeback with the help of some solid defensive play.  The Gaels held Fairfield to just two field goals over the time frame and caused three turnovers.  They were also assisted by a 2-for-7 performance by the hosts from the free throw line.

Sophomore Rashon Dwight made the score 74-72 with a slicing drive and layup with 70 seconds to play.  The Stags converted one of two free throws on their next possession to advance the lead to three points.  Dwight was fouled on another drive to the hoop.  After making the second of two attempts, Iona's full court pressure forced a traveling call as Iona had a chance to tie with 25 ticks left on the clock.  It was Dwight again who's number was called for the game-tying attempt but a layup attempt rolled in and out and into the hands of a Fairfield defender.  Another great defensive stop forced a turnover and Iona had a second chance with 18 seconds left.  Rookie Scott Machado found Huffman open in the corner and the 7-0 junior buried a three-pointer with 13 seconds left to give Iona its first lead since the start of the contest.  It was Edney though who found himself open on the other end and drained the late dagger that stole the win from the Gaels.

Clarke's career-high 24 points led the Gaels in the loss.  He was 16-of-19 from the free throw line, falling one make shy of tying the school record.  He grabbed a team best seven boards in arguably his top performances in Maroon & Gold.   Huffman posted 13 points and four rebounds while Dwight tallied 10.  Pratt and Machado each had eight in the defeat.

The Gaels look to snap the four-game slide on Wednesday night when they complete their three-game road trip at Long Island University in Brooklyn Heights, NY.  The Gaels and Blackbirds square off for the first time in 21 years in a battle of New York Metropolitan area rivals.