SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College men's basketball team hosted Pace University on Wednesday, November 29 and earned their first Northeast-10 Conference win with a 72-60 victory.
FAST FACTS:
Final score:AIC 72, Pace 60
Records:AIC improves to 4-2, with a 1-2 NE10 mark; Pace falls to 2-5 and 1-2 in the NE10.
Location:Butova Gymnasium, Springfield, Massachusetts
STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Xion Golding: 28 points, 10-19 from the field
Zekiah Owens: 13 points
Pace:
Vinny Dalessandro: 15 points, seven rebounds
Brandon Jacobs: 15 points
Peyton Wejnert: 14 points, 12 rebounds
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the first 8:12 of the contest, AIC was able to jump out to an 18-4 lead. During that opening run, the Yellow Jackets drained four three-pointers, three of them coming from Xion Golding. After a three pointer from the Setters, two baskets by Robert Durant and a jumper from Andrew Anderson gave AIC the 24-10 lead. Just 30 seconds later, Kassim Kaba connected on a triple to extend the Yellow Jacket advantage.
- Up 31-15 with 3:40 left in the first half, AIC netted a triple from Adonis Williams to put the score at 34-15. As Williams was at the line with 1:00 left before the break, he hit a pair of free throws to give the Yellow Jackets the 38-20 advantage, which was their largest lead of the game. AIC led 39-24 at halftime.
- Leading 41-30 early in the second half, the Yellow Jackets received a layup from Golding and then a dunk from Tahlib Swan to put the score at 45-32. AIC would not let Pace get back into the game as Golding hit another three pointer with 15:49 remaining in the game to give his team a 50-34 cushion.
- Minutes later, the Setters went on a 10-2 run to tighten the game and be down 53-47. On the next possession for the Yellow Jackets, Golding ended Pace's rhythm by drilling a three to be up 56-47. The Setters sank a triple to cut the deficit back to just six points with 4:13 left; it was the closest Pace would get to the lead for the rest of the contest.
- AIC closed out the game strong by going on a 10-4 run and earning the 72-60 win.
GAME NOTES:
- Freshmen Xion Golding poured in a career-high 28 points in the 72-60 victory over Pace on Wednesday night. It was also the second time the rookie has scored in double figures, putting up 11 points against Philadelphia University on November 12.
- After getting 4 blocks against Pace, AIC is now third in the NE10 in blocks at 3.5 per game. The Yellow Jackets are only behind Southern New Hampshire (3.9) and Saint Rose (4.2).
- AIC made a season-high eight three pointers against Pace, with Golding being responsible for five of them. Prior to Wednesday night's contest, Golding was 0-11 from three-point range. He went 5-9 from deep against the Setters.
NEXT UP:
- American International College will host the Purple Knights of Bridgeport in a non-conference tilt on Saturday, December 2 at 1:30 p.m.
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