SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College men's basketball team saw its stars produce in key moments as part of an 81-72 Northeast-10 Conference win over Saint Michael's College on Saturday, January 2.

AIC is now 3-10 overall and 2-3 in the NE10.

Justice Ellison and Tyrae Washington scored AIC's first baskets of the game, and Abdullah Mahamed added his name to the scoresheet shortly thereafter to help AIC to an early 6-2 lead. The Purple Knights kicked it into gear to take the lead, but Jack Hall landed the first of his deep shots to respond, and he and Reece Brown piled up points to help AIC lead 21-17 midway through the half.

Both offenses slowed soon after, but AIC was able to do enough to keep the Purple Knights at bay; Hall sank a three that forced a Saint Michael's timeout with the visitors down 33-28 with 2:43 left in the half. It did no good; Ellison and Hall were the only ones to find the twine again in the half, and AIC led 37-28 heading to the locker room after 20 minutes.

The halftime break did work for the Purple Knights, who scored the first eight points and shrank AIC's lead to one before Ellison put back a rare Hall miss for the first of two straight hits. Every time the Purple Knights pulled within one, AIC was able to respond with a make, and with 9:03 to play, Hall took a Lovre Zaja pass and fired it home from deep for a 57-49 lead.

The Purple Knights surged once more, but after a three cut AIC's edge back to one again, Zaja took matters into his own hands, knocking in a bid from the top of the arc for a 70-66 advantage with 2:39 to go. That was the beginning of the end, as Saint Michael's fouled to extend the game but AIC put away the free throws to win the contest.

Ellison ended with a double-double of 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Hall scored 23, and Brown added 14. Zaja facilitated on both sides of the ball with nine rebounds and seven assists.

AIC returns to action Sunday, January 5 at 3:30 p.m. at Franklin Pierce University.