Final
  for this game

Iona defeats Rider 72-59

Jan 19, 2010 - 3:24 AM NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.(AP) -- Scott Machado scored 20 points and Iona defeated Rider 72-59 on Monday night.

Machado hit a 3-pointer 36 seconds into the game to give the Gaels (13-6, 5-3 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) a 3-0 lead, and they didn't trail the rest of the way.

The Broncs (10-10, 3-5) pulled within 9-8 on Ryan Thompson's layup with 15:29 left in the first half. But Iona used a 13-4 run to pull away.

Alejo Rodriguez capped the spurt on a layup for a 22-12 lead with 9:35 left until halftime.

The Gaels shot 52 percent (5 of 12), while holding the Broncs to 12.5 percent from 3-point range (1 of 8) in the first half.

Rider finished shooting just 6.7 percent from long range (1 of 15), while Iona made 47.6 percent of its 3s (10 of 21).

Ryan Thompson scored 17 points for the Broncs and Mike Ringgold chipped in 10.