Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The American International College men's basketball team opened the home portion of its 2007-08 schedule with a 67-66 victory over No. 20 Saint Rose Sunday afternoon at Butova Gymnasium. Junior forward Lucius Milliner (Belleville, N.J.) and sophomore forward Aikeem Vanderhorst (Bay Shore, N.Y.) netted 14 points each for the Yellow Jackets in the win. Both teams are now 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in the Northeast -10.

AIC dominated the first half thanks to an early 11-2 run, which included six points from Vanderhorst, that gave the Yellow Jackets a 20-9 lead 8:44 into the contest. AIC closed the first half with a 12-2 run and took a 38-21 lead into the locker room.

The Yellow Jackets shot .500 (14-28) from the floor in the opening period and outscored the Golden Knights 22-8 in the paint. Saint Rose, which was picked to finish second the in the Northeat-10 Preseason Coaches' Poll, shot just .300 (9-30) in the first half.

The Golden Knights cut their deficit to six 5:51 into the second half on the strength of an 11-2 run and tied the game at 49-49 with 9:53 to go in the contest.

AIC trailed by one with under five minutes to go and regained the lead for good on a three-pointer from senior guard Jeff Dosado's (Montreal, P.Q.) with 3:46 remaining in the period. That lead was extended to four points at 65-61 when Dosado forced a turnover and junior forward Colson Senat (Montreal, P.Q.) tipped-in a rebound on the ensuing possession with 2:55 to go in the game.

The lead remained at four after a pair of made free throws from sophomore guard Jermaine Clark (Perth Amboy, N.J.) and a lap-up by Senat before senior forward Shanty Robinson's (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) jumper cut AIC's lead to two. Senior guard Will Monica (Great Falls, Va.) stepped to the free throw line with just three seconds left on the clock with a chance to tie the game, but he missed the first and made the second for the 67-66 final.

Saint Rose immediately fouled and then grabbed the rebound off a missed free throw from freshman guard Sesoo Ikpah (Williamstown, N.J.), but Monica's desperation three fell short at the horn.

Monica finished with a game-high 21 points for the Golden Knights, while junior forward Evan Lane (Sharon Springs, N.Y.) came just short of a double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Steve Dagastino (Schenectady, N.Y.), who had been averaging 20.0 points entering today's contest, was held to just nine points.

Senat finished the game with 11 points and six rebounds for the Yellow Jackets, while sophomore forward Ryan Leak (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 11 points, three rebounds and two blocked shots.

AIC continued to shoot well it the second half at 52.2-percent (12-23) and finished the game shooting 51.0-percent (26-51) from the floor. Saint Rose's shooting improved dramatically in the second half as the Golden Knights hit 60.7-percent (17-27) of their attempts, including a six-of-nine performance behind the three-point line.

The Yellow Jackets return to action Wednesday when they travel to second-ranked Bentley for a 7:30 p.m. NE-10 contest.