Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The eighth-seeded American International College men's basketball team shot just 25.5 percent (13-51) from the field and 11.1 percent (2-18) from three as it dropped a 57-45 decision to ninth-seeded Adelphi University in the first round of the Northeast-10 Men's Basketball Championship Tournament Saturday afternoon at Butova Gymnasium.

The Yellow Jackets closed the season with an overall record of 14-14, while the Panthers improved to 19-10. Adelphi advances to face top-seeded Stonehill College Monday in the quarterfinal of the conference championship tournament.

Junior guard Richard Byrd (Central Islip, N.Y.) scored 15 points and grabbed four rebounds to lead the Panthers. Junior guard David Akinyooye (Elmont, N.Y.) just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine boards, while freshman guard Chris Ranglan (Yonkers, N.Y.) added 10 points and grabbed four boards.

Sophomore forward #Isiah Wallace# (Springfield, Mass.) scored a game-high 24 points with eight rebounds, two assists and two steals to lead AIC, which had won four in a row heading into today's contest. Junior forward #Anthony Thomas# (Baltimore, Md.) added eight points and pulled down 11 rebounds.

Adelphi didn't shoot well in the game either, but shot well enough to win the game. The Panthers shot 31.7 percent (20-63) from the field and were just 1-for-14 from beyond the arc. They did convert 88.9 percent (16-18) for the free throws, while the Yellow Jackets shot 68 percent (17-25) from the line.

Adelphi held a slim 25-21 lead at the half and was up 34-29 early in the second, but AIC chipped away at that lead and eventually took the lead after a Thomas layup made it 42-41 with 7:29 left on the clock. The Panthers responded with a 10-2 run to 51-44 lead with 2:56 to go and pulled away at the free throw line.