SPRINGFIELD, Mass. American International College men's basketball junior Juwan Moody (Pontiac, Mich.) netted a season-high 26 points as the men's basketball team defeated Le Moyne College in Northeast-10 action Saturday afternoon at the Butova Gymnasium, 72-59.
With the win, AIC improves to 10-12 overall and 6-10 in the NE-10, while with the loss Le Moyne falls to 6-15 and 4-12 in conference clashes.
Typically a slow-starting team, the Yellow Jackets jumped out with two quick buckets. AIC junior Nolan Woodward (Quebec, Canada) hit a three-ball 55 seconds into the contest and senior Cameron Dobbs (Albany, N.Y.) followed it up with a jumper to take an early 5-0 lead.
Le Moyne followed it up with consecutive three's from Anthony Richards and Eriq Jenkins to take a one-point lead, 6-5, the Dolphins lone lead of the day.
Moody quickly silenced Le Moyne with his first of six trey's on the day. The Yellow Jackets opened its largest lead of the half with two Bruce Spruell (Hanover, Md.) free throws as the team remained close throughout the half.
Woodward bookended the half with a solid drive and lay-in to give his team a 37-30 advantage into the locker room. Moody and Woodward each had 10 first half points to lead all scorers.
Out of the break, the offense sputtered to get going from both sides. Dolphin Qwadere Lovell broke the offensive silence 2:35 into the half with a layup. Moody hit two more behind the arc and a pair from the charity to open an 11-point AIC lead, 47-36, with 13:32 left.
The Dolphins did not go away without a fight, clawing back to within four at the 7:34 mark, 52-48, but AIC ended the game with a 20-11 stretch.
Moody has come alive of late for the Jacket offense, averaging 15.8 points over the last four games for AIC. He was 8-12 from the floor for the game and 6-8 from three-point land. Woodward finished with his first double-double of the season, 16 points and 10 rebounds.
American International owned the battle on the boards, outrebounding Le Moyne, 47-28. Freshman Jayvon Pitts-Young (Portland, Maine) grabbed eight, while senior Oscar Assie (Ansonia, Conn.) and junior Rasheed Howard (Woodbridge, N.J.) hauled in seven apiece.
On the defensive end, the Jackets held Le Moyne under 37 percent shooting as the Dolphins went 7-28 from long range.
The Yellow Jackets return to action Wednesday, Feb. 10 when they play host to Southern Connecticut State University for a NE-10 showdown. Tip-off with the Owls is slated for 7:30 p.m. from the Butova Gymnasium.
