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Saint Peter's Wesley Jenkins drives for the basket as Iona's Scott Machado seeks to block his way in the first half during an NCAA college basketball game for the title of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament in Bridgeport, Conn., Monday, Mar Bob Child, Associated Press
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Saint Peter's Steve Samuels guards Iona's Rashon Dwight during an NCAA college basketball game for the title of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament in Bridgeport, Conn., Monday, March 7, 2011. Bob Child, Associated Press
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Iona's Mike Glover reaches up to block a shot by Saint Peter's Darius Conley in the first half during an NCAA college basketball game for the title of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament in Bridgeport, Conn., Monday, March 7, 2011. Bob Child, Associated Press
By Associated Press

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Jeron Belin scored 17 points and St. Peter's beat Iona 62-57 to secure the school's first NCAA tournament berth in 16 years and win the MAAC championship Monday.

Nick Leon added 15 points for the fourth-seeded Peacocks (20-13), who upset top seed Fairfield 62-48 Sunday.

Michael Glover had 23 points for Iona, which came in averaging almost 80 points per game. Scott Machado added 15 and Rashon Dwight added 10.

The Gaels trailed by as many as 12 in the second half before mounting a furious late comeback that fell short.

Iona's 57 points were a season low, two below the 59 they had in a two-point loss to Rider in January.

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This was St.' Peter's seventh appearance in the MAAC championship game, but its first since 2006. The school last won the tournament in 1995.

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