Men's Basketball drops NE10 match with No. 15 Pace
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
American Int'l (1-7,1-2 NE10) | 41 | 28 | 69 |
|
Pace (8-0,3-0 NE10) | 48 | 38 | 86 |
PLEASANTVILLE, New York - The American International College men's basketball team fell 86-69 to No. 15 Pace University in Northeast-10 Conference play on Wednesday, December 4.
AIC is now 1-7 overall and 1-2 in the NE10.
The Yellow Jackets started off on an early run, with Lovre Zaja, Jack Hall, and Reece Brown sinking threes in the first two minutes of play to give AIC a 9-2 lead. However, the Setters scored the next 10 points, forcing an AIC timeout.
AIC pulled back ahead thanks in part to a pair of triples by Kanye Wavezwa, only for the Setters to begin building a lead that stretched to 33-24 with 8:12 to play after a Tray Alexander jumper. The Yellow Jackets again responded, clawing back to tie the game on a jumper Justice Ellison sank through contact with 5:35 left on the clock, and he hit the bonus shot to give AIC a 34-33 lead.
Once more, Pace had a retort; the Setters scored the next 11 points, before Brown caught a pass from Ellison and swished a three to snap the skid. Brown also hit a buzzer beater from Zaja, keeping AIC's deficit to 48-41 at the break.
The home side scored first out of the locker room, but AIC was right back in the game, pulling within one less than six minutes into the period.
Unfortunately, the Setters offense proved to be too much to stop; they built a double-digit advantage again and this time did not relent. AIC could not get back closer than within nine over the final 9:30, as Pace continued its undefeated start.
Ellison led AIC's offense with 25 points as well as six rebounds and seven assists, shooting 7-of-15 from the field and 11-of-15 at the line. Abdullah Mahamed added 14, hitting six of his nine shots, while Brown chipped in 10.
The Yellow Jackets return home Saturday, December 7 at 3:30 p.m. against the University of New Haven.