Box Score

Smithfield, R.I. - The American International College men's basketball team dropped a 65-54 decision at Bryant Saturday evening. The Bulldogs improved to 14-9 on the season and 10-8 in the Northeast-10, while the Yellow Jackets dropped to 10-12 overall and 7-10 in conference play. Junior guard Vernon Dupree (Wilmington, Del.) netted a game-high 20 points and grabbed seven boards for AIC.

Bryant opened the game on a 14-5 run over the first 6:42 and never looked back and they led by a double-digit margin for most of the game. The Yellow Jackets, who entered the contest with a four-game winning streak, trailed 36-27 at halftime after sophomore guard Mike Troll (New York, N.Y.) drained a 3-pointer as time expired in the period and closed within six in the first three minutes of the second half at 38-32. Bryant answered with five straight points to extend its lead back to 11 at the 14:48 mark of the second stanza.

Senior forward/guard Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, N.J.) led the Bulldogs with 19 points and five rebounds and sophomore forward/guard Cecil Gresham (Bloomfield, Conn.) netted 16 points with seven boards. Sophomroe guard Chris Birrell (Scituate, R.I.) also scored in double figures with 12 points and dished out seven assists. Troll and sophomore forward Aikeem Vanderhorst (Bay Shore, N.Y.) added eight points each for AIC.

The Yellow Jackets return to action Wednesday when they host top-ranked and undefeated Bentley at 7:30 p.m. Fans that also attend the women's game against the Falcons - set for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff - will gain free admission by wearing a pink shirt as \AIC will be participating the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Think Pink initiative for breast cancer awareness.