NORFOLK, VA - The Iona College men's basketball team escaped with a 73-64 win over Norfolk State in non-conference action at Echols Hall. After seeing an 18-point first half lead erased and facing a six-point deficit, the Gaels (3-3) gritted out the final 11 minutes, ending the game on a 28-13 run and a nine-point victory.

Junior Randy Dezouvre converted a layup with just under four minutes to play in the first half to give Iona a 34-15 lead. The 6-5 wing showed no fear in driving around 6-11 Kyle O'Quinn on his way to the bucket. Baskets were tough to come by in those final four minutes and the lead dwindled to seven at the break after Norfolk State (1-5) converted eight of the half's final 10 points from the foul line.

The Spartans came all the way back to tie the score at 41-41 just over four minutes into the second half and took the lead for the first time in the contest at the 14:19 mark on two free throws by Rodney McCauley. Senior Kyle O'Quinn gave the home team its largest lead of the contest at 11:16 with a jump hook over on the baseline over an Iona defender. It was then a contest of mini-runs as reigning MAAC Co-Player of the Week Kyle Smyth got the Gaels even at 51-51 with just under 11 minutes to go with back-to-back three pointers. Norfolk Sate scored the next five points and led 56-51. Junior Mike Glover scored four straight on two free throws and a layup and senior Rashon Dwight gave Iona a one-point lead after the under-eight minute media timeout. The Spartans again answered with a 5-0 run and took a four-point, 61-57, advantage with 5:40 on the clock.

Junior Scott Machado took the game over converting two straight transition layups, a neat alley-oop lob pass to Glover and then a third transition bucket to spark a 7-0 run and give Iona a lead it would not relinquish. Glover and junior Jermel Jenkins converted 5-of-6 free throws in the final minute to round out Iona's scoring.

Glover posted his second double-double in three games with 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Gaels. He added three assists and a steal with no turnovers in the win. Smyth posted 18 points, connecting on five three-pointers and has converted 13-of-21 in his last two appearances. Dezouvre sparked the Gaels off the bench with 12 first-half points to set a new season-high.

O'Quinn and junior Marcos Tamares each had 15 for Norfolk Sate while senior Rob Hampton added 14.

The contest featured five former St. Mary's High School coaches and players. Iona head coach Tim Cluess and Norfolk State assistant Robert Jones previously coached the Gaels' Machado and the Spartans' Tamares and senior Aleek Pauine at the Manhasset, NY school.

Iona returns home for two games at the Hynes Center this weekend when they host MAAC foes Canisius on Friday (Dec. 3) and Niagara on Sunday (Dec. 5).

Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Iona College..................   38   35  -   73
Norfolk State.................   31   33  -   64