Box Score BUFFALO, NY - Junior Rashon Dwight led the Gaels with 13 points as the Iona College men's basketball team out lasted Niagara 63-60 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the HSBC Arena. Sophomore Scott Machado and junior Alejo Rodriguez each had 12 points in the win.

A back-and-forth first half saw Niagara take a two-point, 28-26, advantage into the intermission. Seven ties and nine lead changes marked a frame that saw neither team take more than a four-point advantage. The Gaels committed 11 turnovers in the half but had a seven rebound advantage as both teams struggled from the field.

The see-saw effort continued through the first six minutes of the second half before Iona hit a wall on offense. After a Kyle Smyth three pointer put Iona ahead by one with 14:20 on the clock, Niagara scored the games next 11 points to take a double digit lead with just over 10 minutes to play. The Gaels countered with a 9-0 run of their own cutting the deficit to just one point as a Dwight jumper made the score 47-46 with 8:44 remaining. Both teams traded leads over the next five minutes.

Rodriguez knotted the score at 55-55 with 2:43 remaining, tipping home a Machado miss. A three-point play by Niagara red shirt freshman Erik Williams gave the home team a three-point advantage on its next possesion. Rodriguez nearly answered on a conventional trifecta of his own but was unable to convert the free throw and Iona trailed 58-57 with just over 90 seconds remaining. Machado grabbed the rebound on the miss and after two more offensive rebounds, Rodriguez was finally able ot put home a layup and gave the Gaels a one-point advantage with less than a minute to play. Williams again got fouled on a put back attempt but missed the free throw this time as Iona trailed by one with 39 ticks left. Machado put home the gamewinner, keeping the ball himself on a pick-and-roll play and laying it in with 30 seconds remaining.

Niagara called time out with 14 seconds to go to set up their offense. Senior Bilal Benn's runner rimmed out and the pinballing rebound finally was snagged by Dwight who was fouled and sealed the win with two free throws with 1.4 seconds on the clock.

Dwight hit a career-high three three-pointers and added two steals in the victory. Rodriguez had a team-best seven boards while Machado added six assists and six rebounds. Smyth and sophomore Jermel Jenkins each had eight points.

Benn led all scorers with 21 points. Williams posted 13 off the bench while the Purple Eagles' leading scorer Tyrone Lewis was held under his season average with 11 points.

The Gaels look to sweep their Western New York swing for the second year in a row when they take on Canisius on Monday night at the Koessler Center. The two teams tip off at 7:00 pm.