Box Score

Lowell, Mass.. - The American International College men's basketball team dropped its fifth straight contest after falling to UMass Lowell, 72-62, at the Costello Athletic Center Saturday afternoon. Despite the loss, the Yellow Jackets (10-16, 7-14 NE-10) clinched a berth in the upcoming Northeast-10 championship tournament after Franklin Pierce lost to Saint Anselm. Sophomore forward Aikeem Vanderhorst (Bay Shore, N.Y.) led AIC with a game-high 22 points and six rebounds.

The Yellow Jackets led 20-19 after Vanderhorst went 1-1 at the free throw line, but the River Hawks (11-15, 8-13 NE-10) went on a 16-5 run over the next five minutes to take control of the game. AIC trailed 35-28 at halftime and climbed back within four points five minutes into the second half, but UMass Lowell opened up a 12-point lead, 51-39, at the 10:35 mark of the second stanza and held on the for win.

Seniors Michael Gore (Wilmington, Mass.) and Dashon Harper (Columbus, Ohio) tallied 16 points each for the River Hawks. Junior forward Colson Senat (Montreal, P.Q.) added 14 points off the bench for AIC.

The Yellow Jackets will close out the regular season Tuesday when they host Franklin Pierce at 7:30 p.m.