GAME NOTES: The Iona Gaels will hit the road to tip-off their 2013-14 campaign as they challenge the Horizon League's Cleveland State Vikings at the Wolstein Center on Saturday.

The Gaels enter the 2013-14 season in search of their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance after finishing last season with a 20-14 overall record that included an 11-7 showing in MAAC play. Iona overachieved in the MAAC Tournament to advance to the field of 68, but coach Tim Cluess's squad was no match for Ohio State and fell, 95-70, in the second round in Dayton, Ohio. As a collective unit, Iona ranked first in the country in scoring with 80.4 ppg.

Coach Gary Waters had led his unit to 20 triumphs or more in four of his six previous seasons at Cleveland State before a disappointing 14-18 display in his seventh year. The Vikings never recovered from the early setback of an injury to 6-8 forward Anton Grady (13.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg), which ended the 2011-12 All-Newcomer team selection's season after just six games. They also lost their intensity on the defensive end of the floor and allowed their opponents to torch them to the tune of 69.6 ppg. CSU scored only 64.1 ppg itself and never won more than two games in a row. Waters added depth at guard and also to his frontcourt to prevent another significant decline due to an injury.

This will be the fourth meeting in history between Iona and Cleveland State on the hardwood. The Vikings took a 2-1 all-time series lead with a 78-68 win over the Gaels on Nov. 13, 2010.

A couple of All-MAAC Preseason selections highlight the list of players returning for Iona as Sean Armand and David Laury bring veteran leadership to the program. Armand did it all for the Gaels last season with 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. He is also a player that the opposition can not afford to leave alone beyond the arc after setting a new program record with 112 3-point baskets. The only returning player in the MAAC who averaged a double-double in 2012-13, Laury hopes to improve on his 13.1 ppg and 10.3 rpg. Both Tre Bowman and Tavon Sledge showed signs of potential late last season. Former Rutgers guard Mike Poole should fit in nicely in Cluess's up tempo offensive system.

The Vikings return a decent one-two punch to the backcourt with the reigning HL assist champion Charlie Lee (11.6 ppg, 4.8 apg) at point guard and the team's leading scorer Bryn Forbes (12.7 ppg). Penn State transfer Trey Lewis will be eligible after posting 5.6 ppg as a freshman for the Nittany Lions with six starts in 20 games. In addition to Grady, CSU has some talent on the interior with Marlin Mason (8.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and Miami-Ohio transfer Jon Harris (8.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg) in the mix.

These teams are very evenly matched on paper. The Gaels' tendency to run their opponents into the ground will not be very easy due to the presence of Lee, who is a solid point guard at the mid-major level. The Vikings will benefit from Lewis, who should thrive as CSU attempts to successfully defend its home floor.