Kyle Smyth scored 24 points and Scott Machado had a double-double to help Iona hold off Western Michigan 94-88 on Friday in the consolation bracket of the 5-Hour Energy Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
Machado added 17 points, 15 assists and five steals for the Gaels (1-1), who were coming off a 91-90 loss to Purdue on Thursday in their season opener.
Iona never trailed and took a 42-29 halftime lead. The Gaels led by as many as 21 in the second half and held an 18-point advantage when the Broncos went on a 16-4 run to close to 77-71 with 4:47 left.
Western Michigan (0-3), which improved from 33.3 percent shooting in the first half (12 of 36) to 61.1 percent in the second (22 of 36), could get no closer despite outrebounding Iona 50-34.
Demetrius Ward had 25 points and Mike Douglas 16 for the Broncos, who committed 24 turnovers.
