HOOKSETT, New Hampshire -The American International College men's basketball team won its second straight game, using a second-half comeback to beat Southern New Hampshire University, 77-71.
FAST FACTS:
Final score: AIC 77, SNHU 71
Records: AIC improves to 10-9 overall and 5-6 in NE10 play, while SNHU moves to 11-6 overall and 7-5 in NE10 play.
Location:SNHU Fieldhouse, Hooksett, New Hampshire
STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Tahlib Swan: 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists
Kassim Kaba: 10 points
Jordan Vidal: 10 points (2-for-3 from three)
Adonis Williams: 10 points, eight rebounds
SNHU:
Chris Walters: 21 points, 15 rebounds
Daquaise Andrews: 16 points, five rebounds, five assists
Eamonn Joyce: 10 points
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Penmen opened the game with an and-one opportunity that gave them a three-point lead 15 seconds into the game. The Yellow Jackets then rallied off seven of the next 10 points to tie the game at seven. AIC then went on an 11-1 run over the next four minutes to take a 19-8 lead at the 13:05 mark.
- SNHU cut its deficit down to just one with 8:12 showing in the first half, but wouldn't tie or regain the lead until Chris Walters nailed a deep ball to give the Penmen a 31-30 lead with a little over three left in the half. In those three minutes, the Penmen lead grew as high as four, which was where the two teams were at the half, 38-34, in favor of the home team.
- Four minutes into the second half, SNHU had extended its lead to 10, and looked as if it was going to pull away with the game. The Yellow Jackets had other thoughts, however, as they started to chip away. With 7:25 left to play, senior captain Tahlib Swan hit a layup to tie the game at 57.
- A few possessions later, the Yellow Jackets took their first lead of the second half on a three from senior guard Kassim Kaba with five minutes to go. Swan hit a pair of free throws at 3:17 to extend the AIC lead to seven as the intensity started to rise.
- The two teams traded baskets back and forth and by the one minute mark, the Yellow Jackets had extended their lead to eight. The Penmen tried to extend the game, but the Yellow Jackets went 10-for-11 from the charity stripe the last two minutes of the game en route to the 77-71 win.
GAME NOTES:
- The Yellow Jackets netted a season-high 24 free throws made in their victory over the Penmen. They also shot eight more freebies than Southern New Hampshire.
- AIC scored its second-highest scoring total of the season. The only other game AIC scored more in was against Adelphi back on December 9, when it was two points shy of the century mark.
- AIC has racked up multiple blocked shots in 11 straight games.
NEXT UP:
- The Yellow Jackets will host the Merrimack College on Tuesday, January 23 at 7:30 p.m.
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