Box Score
Lowell, Mass. – The American International College men's basketball team went on a late 8-0 run to close its deficit to a single point, 59-58, with 45 seconds left on the clock, but UMass Lowell hit its free throws in the closing seconds to record a 63-58 victory at Costello Gymnasium Saturday afternoon. Sophomore guard #
Sesoo Ikpah# (Williamstown, N.J.) scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Yellow Jackets.
The River Hawks improved to 14-3 overall and 9-3 in the Northeast-10 with their 10th consecutive victory, while AIC fell to 10-7 overall and 6-6 in conference play.
UMass Lowell held a 59-50 lead after junior forward Victor Colon (Chicago, Ill.) hit a three with 5:26 on the clock, but the Yellow Jackets answered with a three from junior forward #
Ryan Leak# (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and a layup from freshman guard #
Isiah Wallace# (Springfield, Mass.) to pull within four, 59-55, with three minutes to go in the game.
Ikpah then made one of two free throws with 1:23 to go and converted a layup with 45 left to make it a one-point game, 59-58. Freshman guard Kyle Caiola (Parma, Ohio) was then fouled as he drove to the basket and made both free throws 25 seconds later and AIC was unable to answer as Wallace missed a layup on the ensuing possession.
Junior guard Kevin Carr (Lancaster, Ohio) pulled down the rebound and was immediately fouled by freshman guard #
Adrian Hynes-Guery# (Montreal, Que.). He made both free throws with eight seconds left in the contest to seal the win for the River Hawks.
Colon led UMass Lowell with 15 points and five rebounds and Caiola added 13 points, three assist and three steals. Carr and junior forward Ali Kanaan (Montreal, Que.) netted 10 points each.
Wallace finished the game with 16 points, seven rebounds and two assists for the Yellow Jackets and Leak filled the stat sheet with nine points, five rebounds, three blocked shots and two assists.
AIC will next host Southern New Hampshire University Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. at Butova Gymnasium. The game can be heard live on 91.9 FM WAIC or online at www.AICYellowJackets.com.
