SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts The American International College men's basketball team finished their season opening series with #10 Mercyhurst University. The Yellow Jackets cut a 16-point deficit to three in the second half but fell 78-62.



FAST FACTS:
Final Score:#10 Mercyhurst 78, AIC 62
Record:AIC falls to 0-2, while #10 Mercyhurst moves to 6-0
Location:Henry A. Butova Gym Springfield, Massachusetts

STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Jordan Vidal: 14 points, two rebounds, three assists
Bane Terzic: eight points,
Donovan Miller: eight points, two rebounds, four assists
Shyheim Hicks: eight points, two rebounds

#10 Mercyhurst:
MiyKah McIntosh: 17 points, three rebounds
Michael Bradley: 12 points, two rebounds, four assists, five steals
Melkisedek Morequx: 12 points, three rebounds
Danny Ogele: 10 points, five rebounds

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Lakers jumped out to an early 5-0 lead thanks to a jumper by Bradley and three by McIntosh. Senior Shyheim Hicks answered with a three of his own moments later. Classmate Xion Golding tied the game up on a layup off the pass from freshman Donovan Miller. Miller followed his assist up with jumper on the next possession.
• Trailing 18-14 with 11:20 on the clock, senior Jordan Vidal nailed a pair of free throws to start an AIC run. Two possessions later, sophomore Jalen Jordan found Vidal for a three to put the Yellow Jackets up 19-18.
• A jumper a minute later by the visitors swung the score back in their favor. Golding found the bottom of the net while Vidal added two points at the stripe to put AIC up three.
• Over the last seven minutes of the first, the Lakers found their rhythm and started to create space with the Yellow Jackets as they led 39-31 at the break.
• Their run extended into the second half by five point before back-to-back field goals by newcomer Tyrae Washington and Hicks brought the deficit back to single digits.
• Mercyhurst extended their lead to 16, 56-40, with under 14 minutes remaining in the game. AIC didn't back down from a comeback challenge as redshirt-junior Bane Terzic hit a three 15 seconds later.
• Vidal started to heat up after driving to the basket and getting fouled in the act of shooting. He stepped to the line and nailed both shots. On the next defensive possession, he intercepted a Laker pass and finished the fastbreak layup on the other end. After a Mercyhurst basket, Vidal found Jordan for a layup that made it 58-49. Vidal kept the offense running with an assist on a Washington jumper followed by another pair of free throws that made it a five-point game.
• Freshman Carlos Hubb brought the game to within three on the next AIC possession with a jumper in the paint.
• The Lakers put an end to the AIC run with a 10-2 run of their own to push their lead to double digits with 6:25 left.
• AIC made it an eight-point game with 5:43 remaining, but that was the closest they got as Mercyhurst took the game 78-62.

UP NEXT:

• The Yellow Jackets are scheduled to host head to Molloy College on Tuesday, February 16 at 7 p.m.
• Owing to continue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, spectators are not permitted for home games; the game will be available to stream on the NE10NOW Network free of charge.

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 likeAIC Yellow JacketsonFacebook.