Rookies lead way for men's basketball in OT win over Assumption
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – The American International College men's basketball team won its conference opener on Tuesday, November 22, defeating Assumption University 78-76 in overtime.
AIC improves to 1-4 overall and 1-0 in Northeast-10 Conference play.
Forced into the extra session after a three by Kani Glover in the final four seconds, Omarion Jett-Dobbs opened the scoring with a bucket, only to see Cooper Creek hit a three to put Assumption ahead in the first 29 seconds of overtime. The teams then traded shots the other way, with Jack Hall landing a three and Creek responding with a two. The bucket trade continued, with Buka Peikrishvili and Cal Connelly hitting shots.
In the final stretch, Hall took over. He landed a two, then swiped the ball from Kyle Gaskins for a two-on-one, setting up Justice Ellison for a dunk with 40 seconds to go to put AIC ahead 77-73. Ellison then hit a free throw on AIC's next possession, pushing the Yellow Jackets up five. Kyle Gaskins answered with a three, and took the ball back with a chance to win, but a Glover attempt from deep sailed just wide, giving AIC a 78-76 victory.
Hall and Creek each hit their team's first field goal of the game, foreshadowing what was to come. The teams traded runs, with AIC falling behind 16-11 only to go up 30-21, but then giving it back to end up down 36-35 at halftime. Creek had 16 in the first half, far and away leading the Greyhounds in scoring.
In the second half, AIC roared out to a 50-38 lead, as the offense came from all over the court. However, Assumption answered, starting with a Glover triple 6:21 in, his first of three such shots over the next 3:11; shortly after, Daouda Dembele dunked to tie the game at 52-52. The teams kept trading scores from there, with AIC taking a 66-63 lead on Jett-Dobbs sinking two free throws with 25 seconds left. AIC snagged the rebound of a missed Gaskins three, but Assumption stole the following inbound pass, allowing Glover to tie the game and force OT.
Hall led AIC with 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including five threes; he also added four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Ellison posted a double-double with 17 points and a dozen rebounds. Jett-Dobbs contributed 16 points, while Jalen Jorded added 12 points with seven boards and three helpers as well as a pair of blocks.
AIC next plays Queens College on Sunday, November 27 at 1:30 p.m.