Before the 2011-12 season began, the coaches in the MAAC selected Mike Glover as the league’s preseason player of the year. But the last four days in Puerto Rico, Glover’s Iona teammate Scott Machado showed why he may have been overlooked for the honor. Scott Machado handed out 15 assists, part of a Puerto Rico Classic-record 41 assists, in the Gaels’ 89-63 win over Maryland in the fifth place game.

Maryland (2-2) cut a 14-point deficit to seven with 10:12 left to play, but it was all Iona after that, thanks in large part to Machado. The senior guard also added 15 points, completing his third double-double in as many tournament games. During a 20-8 run that grew the lead to 19, Machado scored eight points and assisted on two other baskets, while Lamont Jones added six of his game-high 22 points. Iona, the preseason favorite to win the MAAC, led by as many as 27 points.

Iona (2-1) took its first lead at 13-12 on two of Glover’s 10 first-half points, and the Gaels didn’t trail the rest of the game. Machado fed Glover for an alley-oop dunk, part of a 12-2 run that put the Gaels up 19-14. Despite committing 16 turnovers in the first 20 minutes, Maryland got back in the game, ending the half on a 9-2 spurt to go into the locker room down just 37-34.

For the Terrapins, Sean Mosley led the way with 21 points.