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Saint Peter's marches on, tops Iona for MAAC title

Mar 8, 2011 - 4:23 AM Bridgeport, CT (Sports Network) - Jeron Belin scored 17 points, and Saint Peter's fended off a late Iona rally to clinch the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title with a 62-57 victory.

Nick Leon added 15 points and Wesley Jenkins had 14 for the fourth-seeded Peacocks (20-13), who nearly squandered a 13-point lead in the second half.

Saint Peter's captured its third tournament crown and first since 1995.

Mike Glover posted a game-high 23 points with 11 rebounds for the second- seeded Gaels (22-11), who entered the contest having won nine in a row.

The Peacocks led 47-34 after Belin hit a layup with seven minutes to play. Iona managed to trim its deficit to four at 56-52 with 45.3 seconds left, but Saint Peter's made all six of its free throws down the stretch.

Game Notes

Ryan Bacon had eight points and nine rebounds for Saint Peter's...Scott Machado supplied 15 points and six assists for the Gaels, who got 10 points and 10 boards from Rashon Dwight...Saint Peter's had lost both meetings between these two teams during the regular season. Iona posted a 70-52 victory at home in early January and then repeated the feat on the road in late February by a 73-59 final.