Ellison has career, milestone night, but Men's Basketball falls in OT at SCSU to end playoff run

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut - The American International College men's basketball team battled to the bitter end, falling 84-80 in overtime at Southern Connecticut State University in the First Round of the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Tournament on Friday, March 1.

AIC's season ends at 9-20.

Regulation was a back-and-forth affair; the lead changed hands eight times in the first 11 minutes, and while both teams built six to seven-point leads, it was the Owls who were able to hang onto their edge, as they led 37-31 after 20 minutes of play. That lead was despite the 16 points Ellison scored in the half, on 7-of-13 shooting. The Owls had more balanced scoring; Kazell Stewart went 5-for-5 to net 10 points, and three other players had seven or more.

Ellison continued to sparkle early in the second, scoring three straight field goals for AIC to add seven points to AIC's total and force an Owls timeout. Southern Connecticut rebuilt its lead to eight, but again AIC drew even, as Ellison scored four buckets and assisted the one he did not net himself, finding Jalen Jordan open after a swipe. With just over nine to play in regulation, the score was 54-54.

The back-and-forth continued from there, and AIC regained the lead with just over five to play on six straight Jordan points; the captain made a three through contact and sank the free throw for the rare four-point play and then knocked in a layup as Lovre Zaja stole the ball and it got to Jordan through Aguibou Balde.

Down the stretch, AIC held the lead, up one with just under a minute to play. Both teams missed field goals, and Ellison sank free throws to give AIC a 71-68 edge with 13 seconds left. Down to their last possession, the Owls needed a three and hit it, as Marty Silvera found Josh McGettigan open deep with five seconds to play.

In the overtime, the Owls took the lead and held AIC off; the Yellow Jackets could not hit the tying three in the extra session the way Southern Connecticut did in regulation, and an extra free throw made it an 84-80 final.

Ellison's overall night was amazing; he notched a career-best 39, including his 1000th career point in just two seasons on a jumper with 12:06 to play. Jordan scored 13 and Kanye Wavezwa added 10, while Tyrae Washington led AIC with 11 rebounds. Ellison also notched eight rebounds, four assists, and five steals.