SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts -The American International College men's basketball team built a 13-point lead in the first half, but the Bentley Falcons made a run in the second half to earn a 73-60 Northeast-10 Conference victory over the Yellow Jackets on Wednesday, January 10.
FAST FACTS:
Final score: Bentley 73, AIC 60
Records: AIC falls to 8-8 and 3-5 in NE10 play while Bentley improves to 9-5 and 6-4 in NE10 play.
Location:Butova Gymnasium, Springfield, Massachusetts
STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Zekiah Owens: 14 points, two steals, one block
Jordan Vidal: 12 points, three steals
Tahlib Swan: Nine points, three assists, two steals
Robert Durant: Nine points
Bentley:
Ryan Richmond: 31 points, three assists, two steals
Seth Stankiewicz: 11 points
Brandon Wheeler: Eight points, nine rebounds, three assists, four steals
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Yellow Jackets started off the contest hot by going on an 11-0 run and causing Bentley to take an early timeout just 1:48 into the game. After Brandon Wheeler drained a three for Bentley to put the score at 15-6, AIC answered right back with a layup from Adonis Williams to build the lead back to double digits. After Ryan Richmond drilled a three to bring Bentley within eight points, Robert Durant converted on a layup to make it 23-13 AIC.
- Seth Stankiewicz drained a triple to put the Falcons within five points but the Yellow Jackets answered on the next possession with a three-pointer from Kaseem Kaba. At the 5:35 mark of the first half, the Yellow Jackets continued their effort to pull away when Williams hit another three to be up 33-25. With 1:21 remaining in the half, Zekiah Owens connected on a three-pointer to give AIC an 11-point advantage; they would be up 42-31 going into the locker room.
- One minute into the second half, the Yellow Jackets kicked off the scoring with a fast break layup from Owens. Following that, Bentley went on an 8-0 run to be down just five points with 16:01 left in the game. The game of runs continued as AIC went on a 6-0 run in which Jordan Vidal scored four points.
- After the Yellow Jackets had as much as a 13-point advantage, the Falcons were able to tie up the game for the first time at the 8:29 mark of the half. Zach Gilpin drilled a three, followed by another from Ryan Richmond to draw the score at 51 apiece. Seconds later, Owens made a layup in the paint to break up the tie, but Bentley would get its first lead of the contest when Jordan Mello-Klein connected on a three to go up 54-53.
- The Falcons would then continue to score, notching nine consecutive points and builing a 10-point lead with 5:26 left in the game. Down 70-57 with 1:52 remaining in regulation, Owens drained a triple to bring AIC within 10 points. With just seconds left, Richmond would drill another three and give Bentley the 73-60 win.
GAME NOTES:
- Freshmen Jordan Vidal's 12 points on Wednesday evening marks the eighth time he has scored in double figures this season.
- The Yellow Jackets had a season-low 27 rebounds against Bentley. They also only had seven offensive rebounds. This marks just the second time all season that AIC has had less than 10 offensive rebounds in a game. Prior to Wednesday's game, the Yellow Jackets had a streak of 13 games where they had 10 offensive rebounds or more.
- For the first time this season, AIC allowed their opponent to shoot over 48% from the field. The Falcons shot 49% (28-for-57) on Wednesday night.
- Owens led the team in both points and rebounds, the first time the sophomore has accomplished that this season.
NEXT UP:
- The Yellow Jackets will host St. Anselm College in a conference matchup on Friday, January 12 at 7:30 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED:
