Men's basketball grabs big win over Saint Michael's to complete season sweep

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - In one of the most complete games the young team has had all season, the American International College men's basketball team raised hopes for the future with a 71-54 win against Saint Michael's College in Northeast-10 Conference play on Saturday, January 28.

AIC rose to 5-16 overall with the win and 3-10 in NE10 action.

The Yellow Jackets roared to a significant lead, as Aguibou Balde opened the scoring with a putback, Jack Hall set up Jalen Jordan for a jumper, and then Justice Ellison sent Omarion Jett-Dobbs in for a basket through contact. After the free throw went through, AIC had a 7-0 lead less than two minutes in.

The Purple Knights hit their first field goal over four minutes into the game, but Hall knocked down a three in response, and that summed up the entire first half: any time the guests hit a shot, AIC had an answer. The lead grew to nine after a Carlos Hubb triple put AIC ahead 21-12 just shy of the 12:30 mark, and Balde grew it to double digits on the next possession after he was set up for a jumper by Hubb.

That lead was as large as 14 after a pair of Balde free throws grew the score to 34-22, but the half ended with some controversy as Hall missed a three that he felt he was fouled while taking, and it was the Purple Knights scoring the final triple of the frame to get back within nine at the break.

The Yellow Jackets came out of the locker room determined to keep the visiting team well behind and it showed, as they continued to counter every offensive success. The most notable early bucket of the half was an Ellison dunk, one that he put home through traffic while chasing a rebound from his own missed jumper, that put AIC up 40-28.

Justice was served! ��‍⚖️

Justice Ellison with the SENSATIONAL #SCTop10 putback dunk for @AIC_MBB in a big win over Saint Michael's! @ESPNAssignDesk @SportsCenter @TheNortheast10 #AICommitted #NE10Embrace pic.twitter.com/qnHbB41Hl2

— AIC Athletics (@aicathletics) January 28, 2023

The lead remained at 10 just past the midpoint of the half, but Saint Michael's came on strong, scoring 10 of the next 13 points over a 4:30 stretch to shrink the lead to three. However, this time AIC did not break. Ellison hit a free throw, and Hall followed on the next possession with a three that he was able to hit after great work by Balde to find the rebound of Hall's first shot, and then Jalen Jordan, who in turn kicked it out to Hall.

The three was consequential not just because AIC's lead was back to seven at 56-49, but also because it set a record. It was Hall's 61st made three of the season, one more than the 60 made by Jorge Garcia in 1997-98 that had been the most by a freshman in AIC men's basketball history.

From there, AIC finished the job. Ellison scored on each of AIC's next two possessions to return the advantage to double digits, added another impressive dunk, and continued to collect free throws as the Yellow Jackets earned the win.

The team collected a season-best 48 rebounds, matching its season high with 14 offensive boards and setting a new mark for defensive rebounds at 34. Balde and Ellison each led AIC with 13, while Jordan collected 12. Ellison and Balde also completed double doubles with 20 and 10 points, respectively; Jett-Dobbs snared an additional 12. 

The team will look to build on the win in its next game, scheduled for Wednesday, February 1 at Assumption University at 7:30 p.m.