NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.-The American International College men's basketball team overcame foul trouble and a double-digit deficit to earn an incredible 94-92 win over the Merrimack Warriors.
AIC improves to 13-3 on the year and 8-2 in Northeast-10 play, while Merrimack falls to 9-7 and 4-7 in the NE-10.
Junior guard Trahmier Burrell (Albany, N.Y.) put AIC up 2-0 on the first possession of the game with a nice drive to the right side of the basket.
AIC conceded a pair of free-throws, but then scored two baskets, with a high-low play that was finished by junior forward Oscar Assie (Ansonia, Conn.) to give the Jackets a 6-2 lead early on.
The teams traded baskets from there, with a pair of buckets by senior forward Marcus Porter (New Castle, Del.) keeping the Jackets on top until junior guard Troy Hammel (Valencia, Calif.) made consecutive shots of his own to give Merrimack an 11-10 lead; they added to that on a turnover, as senior guard Travonne Berry-Rogers (Lynn, Mass.) laid it in on a fast break.
Merrmiack added to the lead with a trio of shots to extend their run to 10-0, and though AIC defended well on the next four possessions, they could not score, and a free throw gave the Warriors a 20-10 lead with 11:26 left in the half.
AIC cut into the lead with a pair of baskets, as sophomore forward Max Risch (Marion, Mass.) got on the board with a mid-range jumper and then senior guard Al-Shabazz Jabateh (East Orange, N.J.) dunked home his first of the contest on the next possession.
However, the Warriors picked it up again, as junior guard Gelvis Solano (New York, N.Y.) hit his third three of the game as the home squad extended the lead to 30-16 with seven minutes left in the first half.
AIC did play better in the final stretch of the half, as they cut slightly into the lead, trailing by ten after a three by Porter. Merrimack's foul troubles contributed to a further shrinking of the deficit, as the Jackets used free throws late to cut the home team's edge to 40-34.
Merrimack opened the second half with a bang, hitting a three to build their lead back up right out of the gate. Solano hit a pair of baskets as the Warriors found themselves up 47-36 less than two and a half minutes in.
Burrell helped AIC climb back into the game with a three, as he shrunk the Warriors lead to 50-43 with the long shot, but Solano hit another three of his own to reestablish a double-digit edge, and put home another after that for good measure.
Junior guard Cameron Dobbs (Albany, N.Y.) drained a three and then another of his own, however, as AIC pulled back into it, with Merrimack taking a timeout with 12:30 to go and the lead down to 58-52.
A nice run-and-pass play got the Jackets to within three, as Jabateh hit another three, and then after a steal, Porter laid a ball in to cut it to 58-57 Merrimack. The Warriors immediately drained a three to go back up by four, and the teams traded free throws after that to make it 63-59 Merrimack.
However, the Warriors struck for two quick baskets to take a 67-59 edge before Dobbs hit a floater in the lane to stop the bleeding, and then scored on a fast break to get the team back within four. After he drained a free throw, he missed the second, but AIC rebounded and he hit a three to tie the game.
The Warriors regained the edge with a pair of free throws, but senior guard Bobby Harris hit a fast break and then a three to give AIC their first lead in some time, 72-69. Merrimack again drained a pair of free throws, but another bucket by Dobbs put the Jackets up 74-71.
After a basket by freshman forward Nolan Woodward (Montreal, Que.), Harris banged in another three to give AIC a 79-73 lead, but once again the Warriors hit their shots at the line, regaining the lead with an and-one by junior forward James Kennedy (Dorchester, Mass.) that put them up 81-79 with 4:59 left in regulation as part of an eight point run.
Dobbs once again stopped the bleeding with a bucket, and then Risch hit a free throw to put AIC up 82-81, but the Warriors took the edge back with free throws of their own.
On the next possession, Porter charged into three defenders, hitting a shot and drawing a foul to put the team back up 85-83, and Burrell drained a free throw on the following possession.
Harris continued to shoot at a torrid pace, hitting a three, while the Warriors kept hitting free throws. With two minutes left, AIC had a 91-87 advantage.
However, Solano found a way to get open, draining his seventh three-point shot of the game to get his squad within one with 46.9 left.
Woodward buried a shot from the left side of the hoop to put AIC up 93-90, and the Jackets fouled with 4.8 left to put Merrimack at the line. Hammel drained both free throws, putting his team back within one.
On the last play of the game, AIC was able to pass it around, avoiding a foul until there was just 0.2 left on the clock, salting away the win as Burrell hit one of the last two free throws for the 94-92 final.
Solano had a game-high 36 for Merrimack, who also got 23 from Hammell. Dobbs led the way for AIC with 27, while Porter had 22 in the win.
AIC returns to action Saturday at the Butova Gymnasium when they host Assumption in another NE-10 contest.
