Rider 67, Iona 62

Jan 20, 2014, 04:55 pm

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. -- Tommy Pereira scored 14 points, and Jonathon Thompson and Daniel Stewart had 13 each as Rider won its fifth straight game, 67-62 Sunday over Iona.

Thompson's free throw with 3:10 remaining put the Broncs (11-9, 6-2 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) ahead to stay, 60-59.

Tavon Sledge's layup for Iona had tied the game 59-59, ending a stretch of 5:14 without a field goal for the Gaels (12-7, 6-2).

Iona's total matched its season low. The Gaels, who had won six straight, were averaging 82.6, third highest in Division I.

Pereira made his second straight start in place of Nurideen Lindsey, who is recovering from a concussion, and hit two 3-pointers 14 seconds apart, when Rider erased a 25-14 first-half deficit to lead 35-30 at halftime.

Lamont Jones scored 20 points for Iona and has 1,503 in his career. Sean Armand added 15, Sledge 14 and David Laury had 17 rebounds.