POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - Sophomore Scott Machado scored a game-high 17 points and junior Rashon Dwight added 12 to help lead the Iona College men's basketball team to a 57-51 victory over Marist in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the McCann Center. The Gaels (18-7, 10-4 MAAC) were able to hold off the Red Foxes (1-23, 1-13 MAAC) who charged back from a 13-point first half deficit in the contest.

Iona scored the first eight points of the contest and led 17-4 through the first 10 minutes. After holding Marist without a field goal during the stretch, the home team went on a 10-0 run to battle back to within three points at the 8:25 mark. The Gaels held a single-digit lead until 3:21 left in the half when junior Daye Kaba knotted the score at 3:21. Senior Jonathan Huffman's three-pointer just under two mintues later gave the Maroon & Gold a 31-28 advantage heading into the break.

Machado and Dwight scored the first five points of the second half to put Iona ahead 36-28 less than 90 seconds in. Marist battled back and cut the deficit to two points, but that's as close as they would get. The Gaels could not break free from the Red Foxes, maintaining a single-digit advantage for the duration of the game. A Machado layup with 7:51 to play accounted Iona's final field goal of the game. The Gaels were a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line and played solid defense to hold off any Marist charge.

"It's a road win in February," said Iona head coach Kevin Willard. "I can't be disappointed with anything in this game. Both teams played great defense and made it tough for each other to score. We look forward to getting back to work though in practice and getting ready for Manhattan at home on Friday."

Machado shot 5-of-12 from the field and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. He has converted 18 straight attempts in the last four contests. Dwight was 4-for-8 from the field. Junior Alejo Rodriguez played a season-high 31 mintues and had nine points with a team-best 10 rebounds. Rodriguez posted his fourth straight game with 10 or more rebounds, missing a double-double for the first time in the stretch by a single point.

Marist rookie Candon Rusin had 17 for the home team while Kaba added 10 in the loss.

The Gaels return to the Hynes Center for their final three home games of the season beginning Friday night when they host Manhattan at 7:30 pm.