Team effort lifts men's basketball over Assumption

Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – It took an additional five minutes of play, but the American International College men's basketball team outscored Assumption University 71-67 in a non-conference showdown on Friday, December 10.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score: AIC 71, Assumption 67
Records: AIC moves to 4-5 (1-3 NE10) overall, while Assumption moves to 5-3 (2-3 NE10)
Location: Butova Gym Springfield, Massachusetts

KEY STATS:
AIC:
Xion Golding: 17 points, 13 rebounds
Franklyn Batista: 12 points, eight rebounds, five steals
Donovan Miller: 10 points
Shyheim Hicks: 10 points

Assumption:
Matthew Kelly: 13 points, three rebounds, six assists
Isiah Gaiter: 14 points, seven rebounds
Cal Connelly: 12 points, two rebounds
Jordan White: eight points, nine rebounds

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Yellow Jackets got going with a three by rookie Walter Covington 28 seconds into the game.
• AIC and Assumption were tied at seven when the Greyhounds went on a 12-0 run to jump ahead 19-7.
• The Yellow Jackets answered with an 18-5 run over the next seven and a half minutes to take the 25-24 lead with under four minutes left in the first half.
• Assumption took a four-point lead with 2:42 on the clock. Freshman Donovan Miller hit a jumper with 45 ticks in the first to tie the game at 31. After the Yellow Jackets forced a bad shot on the other end, graduate Xion Golding hit a pair at the line with four seconds on the clock to give AIC the 33-31 lead at the break.
• The second half was exciting as there were 18 lead changes and 14 ties in the 20 minutes of play. The shot of the half came with 1:40 left in regulation when Golding hit a pull-up jumper at the extended elbow to get into double-digit scoring and tie the game at 61. Both teams had opportunities to score but after 40 minutes of play, the score was tied at 61.
• The Greyhounds took an early four-point lead in the first minute and 10 seconds. Golding cut it back down to two with a pair of free throws. On the next AIC possession, he found the bottom of the basket with a layup to tie the game at 65.
• Assumption took a two-point lead when freshman Franklyn Batista made a monster put-back dunk to tie the game.
• As Assumption went cold from the field, Miller and Golding each went two-for-two from the line to give AIC the 71-67 win.

NEXT UP:

• The Yellow Jackets return to action on Monday, December 20 at 2 p.m. when they take on Bentley University in a non-conference matchup.