HEMPSTEAD, NY - Eighteen first half turnovers, an uncharacteristic 26 team fouls and a determined Hofstra squad doomed the Iona College men's basketball team in a 83-75 loss at Mack Sports Complex. The Gaels (10-3) could not erase a 15-point halftime deficit in a valiant second half effort as the Pride avenged last season's defeat to the Maroon & Gold in New Rochelle.

Senior Mike Glover and junior Lamont Jones each had 20 points to lead the Gaels. Glover shot 9-for-11 from the field and posted his sixth double-double of the season with 13 rebounds. Jones was 6-for-20 on the night, 7-of-8 from the free throw line while adding six rebounds and six assists. Junior Kyle Smyth added 12 points off the bench, connecting on four three-pointers including three during Iona's comeback attempt. Plagued with foul trouble for most of the second half, senior Scott Machado posted five points and 10 assists in the loss.  Junior Taaj Ridley added eight points and five boards.

With the score tied at 22-22 with 8:32 to play in the first half, Hofstra jumped out on a 17-3 run over the next four and half minutes to seize control of the contest. The Gaels scored just six points the rest of the half, shooting 1-for-9 from the field during the stretch. The Pride led 43-28 at the half.

Hofstra quickly scored the first five points of the second half, opening up a 19 point lead. Iona's cold stretch reached 1-for-11 before a Jones' three-pointer at the 17:05 mark. After Hofstra's David Imes put his team ahead 57-38 with one of several elbow jumpers for the senior at 14:33, the Gaels scored 10 of the game's next 11 points to cut the lead to with in nine points with just over 10 minutes remaining. The Maroon & Gold got within seven points on three occasions but could not get any closer.

The Pride was led by leading scorer Mike Moore's 24 points. Moore shot 8-for-17 and added five assists. Senior Nathaniel Lester posted 21 points and 10 boards while Imes also got a double-double with 16 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Senior Dwan McMillian just missed one with 10 points and nine assists in the win.

The Gaels out shot Hofstra 44.8%-42.6% and the Pride had a slim 19-18 advantage on assists and 43-42 on the glass.  Iona committed 23 turnovers to Hofstra's 16.

The loss completes the 2011 portion of the Gaels' schedule. Iona is back in action for its final game of a nine-game stretch away from the Hynes Center next Tuesday (Jan. 3) when they "host" MAAC-rival Siena at Madison Square Garden at 9:00 pm following a Big East tilt between St. John's and Louisville at 7:00 pm.