BOX SCORE
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- Western Michigan battles back after being down 15 points within the second half but fell short to Iona, 67-62, Saturday afternoon in front of 1,411 at Hynes Center.
The Broncos (5-7) fought back against Iona (5-6) within the last minute of play in the second half with a David Kool three-pointer to bring the game within one, 63-62. With 38 seconds left in the game, Andre Ricks made a huge steal but was unable to connect on the layup Shawntes Gary made an offensive rebound but was called for an offensive basket interference. With the ball back in Iona's hands, Kool was forced to foul bringing the Gaels lead scorer, Devon Clarke, to the line who would connect on both free-throws sending the Broncos behind by three points with only 33 seconds left in the game.
Derek Drews who is currently ranked fourth in WMU career three-point percentage with .432, was unable to connect on two three-pointer attempts within the last few seconds of the game. With a defensive rebound by Kyle Camper of Iona, Joe Reitz was forced to foul again allowing Iona to capitalize on two more points. The Broncos tried one more time with a three-pointer by Ricks but missed on the final second of play, making the final score 67-62.
Western Michigan and Iona traded baskets in the first half of the game until the Gaels went on an 8-0 run. The Broncos tried to fight back after a good jumper from Drews bringing the score within 10 points, 20-10, followed by Kool scoring 1-of-2 from the free throw line followed by a defensive rebound from Reitz hitting Kool for a three-pointer.
Iona would follow with another 8-0 run until Ricks made a shot from behind the arc followed by a steal from Reitz and shooting 1-for-1 from the free throw line after being fouled on a made layup. Reitz then made a defensive rebound and hit Gary for a three-pointer bringing the score within five, 28-23, with 3:52 left in the first half. The teams traded the baskets until Iona scored four straight points before entering the locker room at half-time, 36-27.
With nine turnovers and 10 fouls in the first half, the Broncos could not connect on any second-chance points compared to Iona's nine.
Iona came out tough at the beginning of the second half going on a 7-1 run in the first 3:07 of play until Reitz made two back-to-back layups surrounding a defensive rebound by Kool. The teams continued to trade baskets until Donald Lawson scored on a layup to bring the Broncos back within six points with 12:42 left, 47-41. Western Michigan could not capitalize on offensive making only 13-of-38 (34.2 percent) field goals and 4-of-17 from behind the arc (23.5 percent). The Broncos fell behind by 12 points or more four times within the last eight minutes, 59-47, until a layup by Gary followed by a three-pointer by Kool brought the game within seven points with 5:03 left in the game.
Western Michigan went on their own 8-0 run bringing the Broncos within one point after a Kool three-pointer with only 1:04 left on the clock.
Reitz led the Broncos with 19 points, seven rebounds, two steals and two assists, followed by Kool with 14 points, five rebounds and one steal, and Gary had 10 points with two rebounds.
Reitz ties Jim Havrille in 8th place in WMU career rebounds with 770, enters 6th place in WMU career scoring 1,408 points, and is now 1st in career free throws made with 454 total.
Iona was led by Clarke with 16 points, followed by Dexter Gray with 14 points and Rashon Dwight and Milan Prodanovic both had 10 points.
Western Michigan host North Carolina Central at University Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 2nd at 7 p.m.
