Okereafor leads Rider past Iona 79-75

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. (AP) Teddy Okereafor scored 23 points, including two free throws that proved to be the winning points, and Rider rallied to defeat Iona

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. (AP) Teddy Okereafor scored 23 points, including two free throws that proved to be the winning points, and Rider rallied to defeat Iona 79-75 on Sunday for its first win over the Gaels in eight meetings.

Okereafor drew a foul on a drive and made two free throws with 36 seconds left and, after Ibn Muhammad made 2 of 3 from the line for Iona, Kealen Ives sealed the win for the Broncs (6-12, 2-5 Metro Atlantic) with two more free throws with seven seconds left.

Iona (9-8, 6-2), which led by 16 in the first half before Rider took an eight-point lead in the second half, got a 3-pointer by Deyshonee Much and a free throw by A.J. English to trail 75-73 with one minute to go.

English finished with 27 points for Iona, which picked up a home victory over Rider 67-58 on Jan. 7.