NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College men's basketball team fell 70-63 to Loyola at the Hynes Athletics Center.  The Gaels (12-17, 7-11 MAAC) will be the No. 7 seed and take on No. 10 Marist in the opening round of next weekend's 2009 MAAC Championship.

Senior Gary Springer led the Gaels with 18 points and nine rebounds.  Classmate Devon Clarke tallied 12 points while rookie Scott Machado had 11 points and nine assists in the loss.

Iona took a one-point, 33-32 lead into the intermission while leading the entire first half.   Eleven lead changes and eight ties marked a tight second half. After rookie Jermel Jenkins drained a jumper with 6:54 remaining, the Greyhounds (12-19, 7-11 MAAC) went on a 9-0 run and led the rest of the way.  The Maroon & Gold got to within three points with 33 seconds remaining, but two Brett Harvey free throws ended the run.

Springer shot 5-of-9 from the field and 8-of-8 from the free throw line and missed his second straight double-double by just one rebound.   Clarke shot 4-of-6 and Machado was 5-for-10 in the loss.

Loyola freshman Anthony Winbush led his team with 17 points.  Sophomore Brian Rudolph had nine points and 12 assists.

Prior to the game, Clarke and Springer were honored in a special senior day presentation.  The Gaels honored the passing of trainer emeritus J.B. Buono by leaving the last seat in the bench empty, only occupied by his signature baseball jersey and horned cap.

The Gaels will take on Marist on Friday night (Mar. 6) in a 9:30 pm tipoff.