WEST HAVEN, Connecticut - The American International College men's basketball team came one basket short in a thrilling 72-69 loss to the University of New Haven in Northeast-10 Conference play on Saturday, February 8.

AIC is now 3-20 overall and 2-13 in the NE10.

Jack Hall opened the scoring, but New Haven threatened to run away with an 11-point run over a 3:01 stretch before Hall drained a three; Buka Peikrishvili hit from deep on the following AIC possession, and Ellison added two more to AIC's ledger after that. Hall knocked in another three, and Ellison tied the game at 15-15 on a layup.

The Chargers retook the lead over and over, only for AIC to come right back; Ellison completed an and-one to draw level at 18 each, and Coleman Hopson and Chase Nelson both struck from deep to counter Chargers makes. New Haven put together another run that Ellison negated with nine in a row for the Yellow Jackets, followed by buckets from Hall and Tyrae Washington. Hall then drew contact shooting a three and was perfect at the line, giving AIC a 40-39 advantage. Ellison and Hall each knocked in one more shot, countering a pair of Ethan Simmon layups, and AIC led 44-43 at halftime.

Washington started the second half with an and-one, converting the old-school three, and Hall and Hopson both drained shots to give AIC a 52-45 advantage. New Haven slowly chipped away, despite several more makes by Hall, tying the game 57-57 and then taking the lead on a three, only for Kanye Wavezwa to sink a shot from deep, followed by a breakaway dunk by Ellison that put AIC back on top with 7:38 to play.

Once more the Chargers tried to pull ahead, taking a 70-64 lead, but Hall and Ellison were not finished, with a three and a two that put AIC within one with 1:19 to play. AIC had three shots at the basket in the final stretch, but unfortunately could not find the target, and the Chargers held on for the victory.

Hall set a new career high, leading the game with 27 points.

Ellison sank another 22 for AIC, and with his last field goal passed current AIC women's basketball head coach and two-time AIC Hall of Famer Kristen Hutchison '02, '04 to move into 13th place on AIC's all-time scoring list with 1,541 points. He needs 43 points to move into the top 10 in AIC history.

The Yellow Jackets will head back to the Elm City on Tuesday, February 11 for a 7:30 p.m. tip off at Southern Connecticut State University.