SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts -The American International College men's basketball team has now lost its third straight game after an 86-58 setbacj to St. Anselm College at home on Friday, January 12.
FAST FACTS:
Final score: St. Anselm 86, AIC 58
Records: AIC falls to 8-9 overall and 3-6 in NE10 play, while St. Anselm improves to 13-3 overall and 9-2 in NE10 play.
Location:Butova Gymnasium, Springfield, Massachusetts
STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Zekiah Owens: 19 points, eight rebounds
Jordan Vidal: 17 points, 3-6 from three-point range
Adonis Williams: 11 points
St. Anselm:
Tim Guers: 32 points, 10 rebounds, two steals
Chris Paul: 15 points, eight rebounds
Taylor Fortin: 10 points, seven assists
Cody Ball: 10 points, seven rebounds
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the first 2:33 of the contest, there were five lead changes as the Hawks got the last lead change with a with a three from Tim Guers to make it 8-6. After five consecutive points from the Hawks gave them a 13-6 advantage, a layup from Jordan Vidal stopped the bleeding for AIC. Down 16-8 at the 11:31 mark of the first half, Adonis Williams hit a pair of free throws followed by two straight layups from Robert Durant and Jordan Vidal to bring the Yellow Jackets within two points of the Hawks.
- From there, the next 6:58 of action saw St. Anselm go on a 17-2 run and have a 33-16 cushion. With 2:29 left before the half, Vidal connected on a triple to bring AIC within 15 points. The Hawks would go into the break with a 40-24 lead over the Yellow Jackets.
- The Yellow Jackets started off the second half by going on a 7-2 run to be down 42-31. At the 14:33 mark, Adonis Williams drilled a three to put AIC within single digits at 47-39. St. Anselm then proceeded to go on a 13-3 run to have a 60-42 advantage with 11:02 left in regulation. Minutes later up 60-44, the Hawks went on a 6-0 run to create their biggest lead thus far in the game at 22 points.
- Despite being down 71-46 with six minutes left to play in the game, AIC continued to show fight as Vidal knocked down a three to cut into the lead. At the 4:40 mark, Andrew Anderson made a jumper and then on the next possession Zekiah Owens threw down a dunk to make it 78-53. With 38 seconds remaining in the contest, the Yellow Jackets would get the last points of the game off a layup from Owens as St. Anselm would earn a dominant 86-58 win.
GAME NOTES:
- Sophomore Zekiah Owens had a career-high 19 points in the loss. His previous career-high was 15 points against Southern Connecticut State on December 5 this year. Owens has scored in double figures in eight games this season.
- The Yellow Jackets were out-rebounded 53-34 on Friday night. This marks just the fourth time that AIC has been out-rebounded all season.
- Freshmen Jordan Vidal had three career-highs in points (17), field goals made (6), and three-point field goals made (3). Vidal has now scored in double figures nine times this season.
NEXT UP:
- The Yellow Jackets will next head to Worcester, Mass. on Wednesday, January 17 to take on Assumption College at 7:30 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED:
