Scott Machado scored 15 points and Iona streaked to the 20-win plateau Sunday with a 74-69 victory over Fairfield in the regular-season finale for both teams.
The Gaels (20-10, 13-5 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) won their seventh in a row and ended the Stags' five-game winning streak. Fairfield (23-6, 15-3), however, had already wrapped up first place in the MAAC.
Iona led 36-25 at halftime, only the second time all season that the Stags trailed by double digits after 20 minutes. A 12-0 run brought the Stags within 54-51 with 7:57 left.
Iona's Michael Glover (10 points, 13 rebounds) broke Fairfield's momentum with a dunk. The Stags, who got 21 points from Jamel Fields, battled foul trouble but rallied to within 70-68 with 43 seconds left.
Kyle Smyth finished Fairfield with two free throws.
Rashon Dwight added 12 points and Jermel Jenkins 10 for Iona.
