SPRINGFIELD, Mass. The American International men's basketball team opened Northeast-10 play with a win over Adelphi University Saturday afternoon in a Southwest Division contest at Butova Gymnasium, 77-73.

With the win AIC improves to 3-1 overall and opens NE-10 play 1-0, while with the loss Adelphi falls to 0-3 and 0-2 in conference action.

AIC senior forward Marcus Porter (New Castle, Del.) paced the Jackets with 11 second half points and finished with a team-high 21. Adelphi edged AIC at the break, 41-39.

The Yellow Jackets got a spark off the bench in the second frame from senior Al Shabazz-Jabateh (East Orange, N.J.. Shabazz was a catalyst in swinging momentum back to the AIC side with two big steals that led to fast break finishes on the other end to put his team up by seven midway through the half. Shabazz finished with a season-high 15 in reserve duty.

Although with 25 seconds left the Panthers were still in it. Two free throws by Justin Jenkins (Bronx, N.Y.) brought them back within one possession, 76-73, but Adelphi was forced to foul AIC guard Cameron Dobbs (Albany, N.Y.) who hit one of two, bringing back to a two score lead with under 20 ticks remaining.

Panther Michael Coffey (Monroe, N.Y.) missed on two threes in the final few possessions as AIC held on for its conference win of the young season.

Trahmier Burrell (Albany, N.Y.) and Bobby Harris (Berlin, N.J.) hit double digits with 19 and 11 respectively. Junior forward Oscar Assie (Ansonia, Conn.) grabbed nine boards.

Overall the Jackets shot well from the floor, nearly 47 percent, but struggled from the beyond the arc (3-of-19).

AIC returns to Ne-10 action Tuesday, Nov. 25 at the University of New Haven. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. from Charger Gym.