Albany, N.Y. - Kyle Smyth had 26 of his career-high 29 points in the first half and Iona made 18 three-point field goals en route to an 86-65 non-league victory over UAlbany on Tuesday, Nov. 23 at SEFCU Arena.
      The Great Danes made five of their opening six three-point shots to take a 17-12 lead at the start. UAlbany (1-4) was still leading 19-15 when Jake Lindfors made a turnaround bank shot. But the Gaels exploded with 22 unanswered points to break the game open. Smyth, who had 15 points in the decisive stretch, led the outburst. He put his team in front with a conventional three-point play when he was fouled on layup after a steal.
     Smith drilled four of eight 3-pointers in the run, including back-to-back shots off an inbounds play and from the right wing in transition. The Gaels, who shot 56.7 percent, including 12-of-18 from long range, in the period, upped their advantage to 40-20 when Scott Machado sank a triple from left of the key. UAlbany clawed to within 12 in the final minutes of the half, before Iona settled for a 47-34 halftime margin.
     "We were worried about their pressure defense and dribble penetration on offense," UAlbany coach Will Brown said. "They got in a rhythm, even with a hand in their face. They made us pay every time we had a slow rotation or defensive breakdown. We played at their tempo and speed."
     Iona (2-3) was still holding a 13-point cushion midway through the second half, but then sealed the verdict with a string of eight straight points. Alejo Rodriguez hit a reverse layup on the right baseline and Jermel Jenkins followed with consecutive 3-pointers, including one from the left side for a 70-49 advantage. Jenkins finished with 21 points and made 7-of-11 from long distance.
     UAlbany's Logan Aronhalt had 25 points, while Tim Ambrose added 18. Machado had 14 points and handed out a career-best 15 assists for the Gaels, who made 51.7 percent of their field goals, including 18-of-30 from three-point territory.
     "They shot lights out," offered Aronhalt, who made 9-of-17 from the floor and played all 40 minutes. "When a team makes 60 percent from the three-point line, that's good shooting."

Paw Prints: Iona's 18 three-point field goals tied the most made by a UAlbany opponent since the program moved to Division I in 1999-2000 ... Dartmouth shot 18-of-36 on Jan. 20, 2001 in an 88-76 victory over the Great Danes in Hanover, N.H. ... Logan Aronhalt extended his double-figure scoring streak to eight games ... Tim Ambrose moved to No. 20 on the all-time scoring list with 1,131 points ... Ambrose climbed past Ted Hotaling (1991-95) ... UAlbany plays in the Legends Classic's Detroit Subregional on Nov. 26-28 ... the Great Danes will Detroit, Niagara and Bowling Green in successive order ... Scott Machado's 15 assists set a SEFCU Arena record, breaking a mark of 12 that was set by Franklin Pierce's Donald Johnson on Jan. 24, 1998.

Iona 86, UAlbany 65 (11/23/10 at Albany, N.Y. (SEFCU Arena)

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Box Score

Iona vs Albany
11/23/10 7:30 p.m. at Albany, N.Y. (SEFCU Arena)

Iona 86

Albany 65