SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts- The American International College men's basketball team looked to play spoilers against Pace, who were trying to inch closer to the Chargers of New Haven for the final playoff spot in the Southwest Division. Javyon Pitts-Young scored 24 in the Yellow Jackets' 78-69 win over the Setters.

Pitts-Young led both teams with his 24-point performance. He went 12-for-13 from the line and added five boards and three assists. Rasheed Howard had a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards in just 30 minutes of play. Kassim Kaba and Justin Daniel each chipped in 12 points.

The Setters got the game going with a layup just 12 seconds after the tip. Pitts-Young got the Yellow Jackets started with an easy lay in. On the next possession, Pitts-Young went to the line and knocked down a pair. After a layup by the Setters, Pitts-Young added two more at the line, as he had outscored the Setters 6-4 in the opening 2:20.

AIC trailed by three when Kaba nailed a triple to tie the game up at 25. The Kaba three started a Yellow Jacket 11-5 run to take the 33-32 lead as they headed into the locker room.

The Yellow Jackets started the second half exactly where they had left off. Over the first five minutes of the second half, they outscored the Setters 18-6 as they took the 51-38 lead. Pace answered with a 17-7 run in just five minutes to cut the Yellow Jacket lead to three, 58-55. The Yellow Jackets ended the game on a 13-6 run in the last four minutes and change to take the 78-69 win over the Setters.

The Yellow Jackets will return to action on Saturday, February 18 when they hit the road for their last road game of the season at St. Rose. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.