JERSEY CITY, NJ - The Iona College men's basketball team overcame a slow start with a strong second half in a 64-40 victory at Saint Peters in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Yanitelli Center. The Gaels (17-5, 9-2 MAAC) held the Peacocks (4-18, 3-8 MAAC) to 34.8% shooting for the game and a season-low point total in the victory.

Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, both shooting under 35.0%. The Gaels converted 8-of-24 (33.3%) in the first 20 minutes scoring a season-low 21 points for the frame. The Peacocks were 7-of-23 (30.4%) from the field. Saint Peter's last bucket of the half, a thunderous dunk by junior Darius Conley with 3:43 left made the score 16-15. Iona scored the half's final five points to take a 21-15 advantage into halftime.

The Gaels got back-to-back field goals by senior Mike Glover to start the second half and quickly opened a 10-point, 25-15 advantage in the first 70 seconds. Peacock sophomore Chris Burke hit a three-pointer with 13:44 left to cut the deficit to eight points and it would be as close as the home team would get. Iona scored 10 straight capped by a Randy Dezouvre dunk with 9:25 left that put the score at 47-29. Scott Machado's alley oop layup from Lamont Jones at 4:30 gave the Gaels a 57-34 lead.  Junior Taaj Ridley hit his first three pointer of the season with 1:14 left to put Iona ahead by its largest margin, 26 points.

Glover led with 18 points and 11 rebounds, his third straight double-double and fourth in the last five games.  Machado posted 15 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Sophomore Sean Armand had 12 points off the bench.  It was Dezouvre's inspired second half effort that sparked Iona's run.  He posted nine points and five rebounds while adding an assist, all in the final 20 minutes of the contest.

The Gaels, who were badly out rebounded in the first half, allowed just one offensive rebound in the second and took a 32-29 advantage for the game.  Iona shot 49.1% from the field and had 15 assists to 11 turnovers.

Iona returns to the Hynes Center on Thursday (Feb. 2) when they host Canisius in a MAAC National Game of the Week on ESPN3 at 7:00 pm.