COLCHESTER, Vt. The American international College men's basketball team overcame a 12-point second half deficit and held on for a thrilling Northeast-10 road victory at Saint Michael's College Saturday afternoon at the Ross Sports Center, 69-66.
With the win, AIC improves to 8-12 overall and 4-10 in NE-10 play, while with the loss St. Mike's falls to 4-15 and 2-12 in league action.
The Yellow Jackets overcame multiple large holes throughout the contest, but gave an eight-point rally back to Saint Mike's in the final 1:26 of play. Purple Knight, Winston Jones II knotted the score at 66 all with 36 seconds left, capping the late rally started by a Greg Grippo three.
After calling time to think out the final possession, AIC freshman Jayvon Pitts-Young (Portland, Maine) made the biggest bucket of his young career, knocking down a tightly-contested shot from behind the arc on the left wing to regain the lead with nine seconds to go.
Grippo, who had already hit six long range shots on the day, got the call for the Knights and fired off a tying three-ball from the top of the key with a hand in his face, but was off the mark as AIC held on for a thrilling win.
The first hole AIC faced was an early 14-5 deficit, but the Jackets were able to quickly regain composure, clicking off a 9-0 run started by a Trahmier Burrell (Albany, N.Y.) trey and ending with back-to-back buckets from the senior forward.
Saint Mike's knocked down consecutive three's including one from Grippo to retake the lead by as many points, but AIC freshman Bruce Spruell (Hanover, Md.) hit one from behind the arc to prevent another monster run, while Burrell backed him up with two more made baskets to take the first lead of the day, 21-20.
Grippo registered 19 points in the opening 20 minutes and help the Knights close the half on a 16-6 run and take a 36-27 lead into the intermission.
Out of the break, St. Mike's added to their edge with two quick buckets, but AIC junior Juwan Moody (Pontiac, Mich.) halted the momentum with a long range shot. The three began a 13-2 Jacket run that featured five different AIC scorers and ended with another Moody trey.
The two traded points, for a spell, but back-to-back possessions by Jacket junior Justin Daniel (, Texas) that featured a slam and a three gave his team all the momentum it needed to finish the final 9:20 strong.
American International freshman Jayvon Pitts-Young (Portland, Maine) gave his team its biggest lead of the day at the end of a 11-2 run, knocking down another long range shot assisted by Spruell at the 4:14 to go mark in the half.
After seemingly having the game in hand, up eight with 1:26 to go, Grippo made another three, his sixth to help his team claw back to tie it up in the final minute. Grippo finished with a game-high 24 points.
Burrell, Moody and Pitts-Young all finished with 12, while Nolan Woodward (Montreal, Quebec) and Spruell chipped in nine apiece. Led by Moody's four three-pointers, the Jackets connected on 11 long range jumpers for the day.
AIC returns to the court Wednesday, Feb. 3 when they travel to Southwest Division foe New Haven. Tip-off from Charger Gym is slated for 7:30 p.m.
