Box Score Las Vegas, NV- The Iona College men's basketball team erased an 11-point first half deficit but was unable to hold on in an 81-76 loss to South Carolina State at the Las Vegas Invitational and Orleans Arena. Senior Dexter Gray's 18 points led five Gaels (0-5) in double figures.

Trailing 36-27 at the 2:33 mark in the first half, Iona cut the deficit to seven points at halftime with on a put back by senior John Kelly with less than 20 seconds remaining.

Iona kept chipping away at South Carolina State's (1-4) lead finally catching up at 46-46 at the 15:40 mark on a jumper by Gray. Iona completed an 11-0 run on a three pointer by senior Kyle Camper at 14:59. The Bulldogs rallied to tie the score at 53 and took a five point lead with less than six minutes to play. An Andre Tarver three pointer and another put back by Kelly gave Iona a one point lead with 2:28 on the clock. Two free throws by SCSU's Jason Flagler put his team ahead for good two possessions later.

The Bulldogs shot 8-for-10 from the free throw linein the final two minutes of the contest to hold on to the win.

Gray added a game-high nine rebounds, Rashon Dwight had 12 points while Camper added 11 and Tarver and sophomore Milan Prodanovic had 10 each in the loss. Kelly had a season-high six points and eight rebounds.

The Bulldogs' Jessie Burton and Carrio Bennet each had 18 for the winning team. Burton torched the Gaels with a 5-for-5 performance from behind the three point line.

The Gaels take on Jackson State tomorrow in the Invite's final matchup. Iona completes a six-game road trip to start the season in the contest.