Box Score

Manchester, N.H. – The American International College men's basketball team nearly came back from a 19-point halftime deficit, but in the end Saint Anselm College held on for a 74-64 win Sunday afternoon at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium. Junior forward #Aikeem Vanderhorst# (Bay Shore, N.Y.) scored a game-high 21 points, 20 of which were in the second half, and grabbed seven boards for the Yellow Jackets.

The Hawks improved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the Northeast-10, while the Yellow Jackets fell to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in conference play. It was also the Yellow Jackets second road loss of the season.

Junior guard Greg Vatrano (Andover, Mass.) Saint Anselm with 17 points, six rebounds and three assists and sophomore guard Thomas Baudinet (Watertown, Conn.) netted 16 points with five steals and three assists. Sophomore guard Pat Luptowski (Keene, N.H.), the son of AIC head coach Art Luptowski, added 12 points and seven boards.

Freshman guard #Isiah Wallace# (Springfield, Mass.) scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Yellow Jackets and senior forward #Lucius Millinder# (Belleville, N.J.) contributed 11 points and seven boards. Freshman guard #Andian Hynes-Guery# (Montreal, Que.) had 10 points and two steals.

The Hawks led 18-15 with 7:50 left in the first half before going on an 18-3 run to take a 36-18 lead with three minutes left in the opening period. Saint Anselm led 41-22 at the half after shooting 55.2 percent (16-29) from the floor and 58.3 percent (7-12) from 3-point range, while AIC shot just 28.6 percent (8-28) from the floor and was 0-4 from long distance.

The game was far from over though as the Yellow Jackets stormed back and cut their deficit to three, 62-59, after a pair of Vanderhorst free throws with 4:40 to go in the contest. It was still a three-point game, 66-63, with 2:13 on the clock, but AIC was forced to foul down the stretch and the Hawks pulled away at the free throw line for the 74-64 final.

The Yellow Jackets shot much better in the second half, making 53.8 percent (14-26) of their attempts from the floor and shot 40.7 percent (22-54) for the game. They also shot 70.4 percent (19-27) from the free throw line.

AIC picked up the pressure on defense in the second half and held Saint Anselm to 39.1 percent shooting from the field and 16.7 percent (1-6) from long distance. In the end, the Hawks shot 48.1 percent (25-52) from the floor and 72.7 percent (16-22) from the free throw line.

The Yellow Jackets return to action Wednesday when they host Pace in a Northeast-10 contest at 7:30 p.m. The game can be heard live on 91.9 FM WAIC and online at www.AICYellowJackets.com.