Box Score Andrew Kahn will be writing feature and postgame articles for Iona basketball for
ICGaels.com in the 2009-10 season. A New Rochelle High School
graduate, he holds an English degree from the University of Michigan
and currently works for the non-profit Dana Foundation. In addition to
his work for ICGaels.com, Andrew writes for his own blog,
www.TheSportsJournalists.com.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Boston University had the experience, the star players, and the hottest shooter on the floor. They just didn't have the legs.
The Iona College men's basketball team used a 10-man attack to beat BU 82-73 at an energetic Hynes Center.
"We knew we could wear them down," head coach Kevin Willard said after the game. "They're a good shooting team, they're very skilled, but we wanted to get to their bench and we wanted to wear those guys down."
Ten Gaels saw significant court time, while the Terriers were essentially six deep. Twelve Iona players got in the scoring column; nobody outside of BU's starting five scored.
Leading the way for the Gaels was sophomore point guard Scott Machado, who had a team-high 16 points, six assists, and three steals. Last year's MAAC Rookie of the Year displayed the passing skills he's known for, as well as an improved outside shot. Machado hit two three-pointers early in the second half to help keep Iona in the lead.
In total, the Gaels hit 12-of-24 from downtown. They shot 46% from the field while holding BU to 38% shooting. Iona never reached the 80-point mark last season. In fact, the Gaels failed to score more than 48 points three times last year; tonight, they had 48 at the half.
The up-tempo style certainly pleased the crowd, which Willard called "by far the best" since he's been at Iona. "We're trying to get more shots up," said forward Alejo Rodriguez, whose put-back dunk late in the second half sent Gaels fans into a frenzy. "Last year we held the ball a lot. We have very athletic guys this year and our conditioning is better. We're trying to run up and down."
Iona forced the Terriers into 22 turnovers, many resulting from the Gaels' aggressive full-court press. The persistent trapping did lead to some easy baskets for BU, but Willard can live with that. "It was at our pace, and that's what we wanted," he said.
The Gaels were down 4-2 in the game's opening minutes but quickly took the lead and never trailed again. The game was not in hand, though, until the last couple of minutes, After Rodriguez's jam looked like it might put BU away, the Terriers cut the deficit to four with just under four minutes left. But the Gaels forced a few more turnovers and made enough free throws down the stretch to extinguish any potential comeback.
The Terriers, picked to come in first in the America East this season, got 21 points from senior guard Tyler Morris, but were overwhelmed by Iona's balanced production. Rodriguez scored 12 and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds. Red shirt freshman Kyle Smyth, who missed nearly all of last season with an injury, knocked down three three-pointers en route to an 11-point performance. Sophomore Jermel Jenkins, who Willard praised for his offseason work, scored 14. In total, there were five Gaels in double figures.
"That's a really good win for us," Willard said. "(BU is) an excellent basketball team. "That's as good as a win since I've been here."
