GAME NOTES: The Iona Gaels take aim at a second straight win tonight, as they invade the Yanitelli Center to take on the Saint Peter's Peacocks in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. The Gaels were in action as recently as Wednesday, when they slipped past Manhattan, 62-60, on a neutral court. The win put a stop to a three-game slide and improved Iona to 8-15 overall and 4-7 in conference play. The Gaels however, have not fared so well in true road games, going just 2-9, including 0-3 versus conference foes. As for SPC, its dismal campaign continued with a 76-67 setback to Rider on Sunday. The loss was the seventh in a row for the Peacocks, who dropped to 4-16 overall and an equally as bad 1-9 in conference play. The all-time series between these two programs is led by Iona, 51-44, and that includes a 69-50 triumph in an earlier meeting last month.

The Gaels shot a solid 50.0 percent from the field, as they held off Manhattan for a 62-60 win on Wednesday. The team also won the battle on the boards, 37-30, and that helped compensate for its 21 turnovers. Gary Springer led the charge with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Dexter Gray had eight points and five boards. For the season, Gray tops the roster in scoring with 10.6 ppg and he is also collecting 5.1 rpg. Devon Clarke adds 10.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg to the mix and he is shooting a sizzling 61.2 percent from the field. As a unit, the Gaels are making good on 43.8 percent of their field goal tries and that has helped them to score 65.8 ppg.

The Peacocks were outscored at the foul line, 18-11, and outrebounded, 36-29, as they were downed by Rider on Sunday. The squad shot a solid 44.6 percent from the floor, but went just 6-of-19 from long range. Wesley Jenkins guided SPC in defeat with 20 points and two steals off the bench. For the season, Jenkins leads the team in both scoring (12.7 ppg) and steals (27) and he is also hitting on 40.3 percent from long distance. Todd Sowell averages a double- double with 12.3 ppg and a team-best 10.4 rpg for SPC, while Darrell Lampley contributes 10.3 ppg. Raul Orta chips in with 10.0 ppg for the Peacocks, who are netting 66.8 ppg behind 41.0 percent shooting from the floor this season.

The Peacocks are due for a win and they have enough balance to get the job done against an Iona team that has struggled on the road.