SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College men's basketball team played its final game before the winter break, as the Yellow Jackets lost to Bentley University 82-72 on Monday, December 20.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score: Bentley 82, AIC 72
Records: AIC moves to 4-6 (1-3 NE10) overall, while Bentley moves to 8-2 (3-2 NE10)
Location: Butova Gym Springfield, Massachusetts

KEY STATS:
AIC:
Franklyn Batista: 15 points, seven rebounds
Jordan Vidal: 15 points, two rebounds
Shyheim Hicks: 12 points, three rebounds
Tyrae Washington: seven points, eight rebounds

Bentley:
Zach Laput: 21 points, four rebounds, five assists
Mason Webb: 15 points, two rebounds, three assists
Jordan Mello-Klein: 13 points, 10 rebounds, three assists
Pete Blust: 10 points, 11 rebounds

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Yellow Jackets led 6-4 three minutes into the game when the Falcons went on an 8-0 run in 45 seconds to take the 12-6 advantage.
• Junior Walter Covington hit a jumper as the Yellow Jackets went on a 6-2 run to bring it within a basket.
• AIC trailed 34-24 with under seven minutes remaining in the opening stanza when senior Shyheim Hicks hit a jumper to make it an eight-point game. After forcing a Falcon turnover, rookie Donovan Miller hit a shot from deep to make it a two-possession game. A free throw by freshman Tyrae Washington and a jumper by Covington with 4:27 on the clock made it a two-point game.
• The Falcons extended their lead to as many as eight before the Yellow Jackets made it a five-point game at the break, trailing 42-37.
• Out of the break, the Falcons went on a 19-6 run over the first seven minutes to take the 61-43 lead.
• Hicks hit a jumper with just over 12 minutes remaining that gave energy. After forcing a missed shot on the other end, Covington added two to his total to keep things going. Sophomore Jalen Jordan hit a pair at the line and Hicks nailed another double to cut the Falcons' lead to 10.
• Zach Laput hit a shot in the paint, to stop the Yellow Jackets' streak, but Jordan hit another shot inside and Hicks grabbed a steal and laid it in to make it an eight-point game.
• That was as close as the Yellow Jackets got, as the Falcons were able to push their lead to as many as 15 before taking the game 82-72.

NEXT UP:

• The Yellow Jackets return to action on Thursday, December 30 at 2 p.m. when they take on Goldey-Beacom University in a non-conference matchup.