BROOKVILLE, New York The American International College men's basketball team built up a late first-half lead and held on to it in a 72-64 nonconference win at LIU Post on Wednesday, December 18.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score:AIC 72, LIU Post 64.
Record:AIC improves to 5-7 overall, while LIU Post falls to 0-9.
Location:Pratt Recreation Center, Brookville, New York

STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Adonis Williams: 16 points, five rebounds, three assists
Zekiah Owens: 16 points, six rebounds, three assists
Xion Golding: 11 points, 10 rebounds

LIU Post
Alonzo Ortiz-Traylor: 30 points, nine rebounds
Seth Goumba: 15 points, three steals
Kendell Ogilvie: 13 points, four rebounds

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Over the first 13:03 of the game, the teams exchanged the lead 11 times, with freshman guard Isaiah Salter laying in a basket with 6:57 left in the opening half to put AIC up 29-28 and spark an 8-0 run over 1:55. From there, the teams traded baskets, and AIC led 39-33 with 2:34 left after a layup by sophomore guard Xion Golding. Neither team scored over the next 2:27, but the Yellow Jackets closed out the half on a high note as sophomore guard Adonis Williams knocked down a three with seven seconds left to send the team to the locker room up 42-33.
• Williams also started the scoring in the second half with a layup at the 2:16 mark, and from there, both teams again traded baskets, as the Pioneers battled to stay in the game. Alonzo Ortiz-Traylor hit a three to cut the AIC edge to 55-50 with 8:08 left, but the Yellow Jackets responded with two Williams free throws followed by a Golding three to build back up a 10-point edge.
• Ortiz-Traylor continued to ring up points for LIU, but Williams and senior forward Andrew Anderson responded with baskets of their own, and junior guard Zekiah Owens slammed home a dunk with 3:06 left to put the Yellow Jackets up 68-60. That would prove to be the margin of victory, with both teams hitting two field goals over the final three minutes to give AIC the 72-64 win.

BUZZWORTHY:

• The Yellow Jackets dominated on the glass with a +21 rebound margin, taking in 49 boards and allowing LIU Post just 28. The 49 rebounds are the second-most in a game this season for AIC, while the 28 allowed and +21 margin are both season-bests for the team.
• Golding's 10 rebounds were a season-best.

NEXT UP:

• AIC returns toButova Gymnasium on Sunday, December 30 at 3 p.m. to face Georgian Court University.

STAY CONNECTED:

• For more updates on the men's basketball team, follow@AIC_MBBonTwitterandInstagram. For updates on all AIC Yellow Jackets teams, follow@AICAthleticsonTwitterandInstagram, and like AIC Yellow Jackets onFacebook