SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College men's basketball team came up short 73-68 to Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Conn. on Tuesday, December 5.
FAST FACTS:
Final score: Southern Connecticut State 73, AIC 68
Records:AIC falls to 4-4 overall; Southern Connecticut improves to 3-4.
Location:Moore Field House, New Haven, Conn.
STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Zekiah Owens: 15 points, 7-11 from the field
Adonis Williams: 15 points, two steals
Robert Durant: 13 points
Southern Connecticut:
Ulyen Coleman: 18 points, seven rebounds
Isaiah McLeod: 18 points, two steals
Luke Beesley: 16 points, seven rebounds
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Just 25 seconds into the contest, the Yellow Jackets had the first two points of the game off a jumper from Tahlib Swan. With a 4-3 lead, an Adonis Williams layup followed by a jumper from Zekiah Owens, gave AIC the 8-3 advantage with 15:58 left in the first half. Up 11-10 later in the half, the Yellow Jackets went on an 11-0 run to have their biggest lead of the game. During that run, Owens was responsible for nine of those points.
- After three consecutive points from Robert Durant to put the AIC lead at 30-21 with 3:03 left before halftime, the Owls drained a three-pointer and then converted on a layup to cut the Yellow Jacket lead to four points. Southern Connecticut was able to make a pair of free throws to be down 31-28 at the break.
- As both teams traded baskets during the first two minutes of the second half to put the score even, Isaiah McLeod hit a jumper to give the Owls their first lead of the game at 37-35. Following that, the game saw nine-lead changes in the span of 7:30. McLeod buried a triple to take that ninth lead change at 56-53 with 9:31 remaining in regulation.
- Following a Southern Connecticut three to go up six points, AIC made three straight field goals to tie the contest up yet again. Down 62-59 with 3:28 left, Williams made a layup to cut the deficit to one. Down 70-63 with 32 seconds left, Williams attempted to bring AIC back with a triple to make the score 70-66. A layup from Xion Golding cut the Owls lead to three points, but with nine ticks remaining in the game, McLeod sank both free throws to give Southern Connecticut the 73-68 victory.
GAME NOTES:
- Durant's 13 points against Southern Connecticut marks the fourth time this season the freshmen has scored in double figures.
- Owens had a record game on Tuesday evening as he made three season-highs in points (15), minutes (34), and field goals made (7).
- Despite the loss, the Yellow Jackets shot a season-high 48% from field goal range. AIC shot 47% from the field earlier this season in a 69-64 win over Philadelphia University on November 12.
NEXT UP:
- American International College will host Adelphi University at Butova Gymnasium on Saturday, December 9 at 3:30 p.m.
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