SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - A 40-minute game came down to the final 0.8 seconds as senior captain Aguibou Balde made a desperation shot to earn the American International College men's basketball team a 78-76 win over Franklin Pierce University in Northeast 10 Conference play on Saturday, December 13.

AIC is now 2-7 overall and 1-2 in the NE10. 

The Ravens had tied the game at 76 each with six seconds to play, and AIC used its last timeout to draw up a play to try to win the game. Ultimately, AIC fired the ball down court, and Tony Felder caught it, but the ball was knocked out of bounds as the buzzer sounded.

The officials, however, reviewed the play, and determined that there were still 0.8 seconds left when the boundary was crossed. It was enough time to make a play - barely.

From the left side of the baseline, Felder scanned for an entry pass, hoping anyone could get open enough to fire. It had to be perfect, and the first time, as the Yellow Jackets had no timeouts left to save themselves.

Balde cut toward the corner, and gained a few inches of space.

Felder saw him and threw it in, and Balde caught it, turned, and heaved the ball as he fell away from the hoop.

The orange orb sailed through the air.

The buzzer sounded, followed by the swish of rubber through nylon, and then by an eruption of cheers as the Yellow Jackets mobbed their captain.

AIC had not started strong in the match, allowing the first six points before Felder put in a three, but that sparked an 11-point run that saw Chase Nelson add key points as well.

Blair Thomas later knocked down back-to-back threes to extend AIC's edge to 24-15 near the midpoint of the half, and both teams made shots down the stretch, with AIC's lead at 36-29 after one.

In the second, it looked like AIC might run away with the game. A Hopson shot at one point extended AIC's advantage to 11, the largest of the game for either side. Only five minutes later, however, the Ravens tied it, and Dylan Goodman's free throw on an and-one put the visitors in the lead; Goodman hit another jumper just after the midpoint of the frame to put Franklin Pierce ahead 58-55.

AIC countered, and regained the edge five minutes later, in part thanks to some swipes by Abdullah Mahamed that allowed the hosts to string together three baskets.

The score was tied four more times, with two lead changes as well in the final 30 seconds before Anthony Parker's free throws set up the frantic final six seconds.

Hopson was AIC's scoring leader with 18 points, and Balde and Felder each added 13; Aleksy Walczak notched 10. Felder and Will Davis each grabbed seven rebounds, and Felder also dished out seven assists. As a team, AIC shot 50.0 percent from the field, making 30 of 60 attempts, including 11 from deep.

The Yellow Jackets will next take a winter break trip to Florida to face Palm Beach Atlantic University and Saint Leo University. AIC takes on the Sailfish first on Thursday, December 18 at 5:00 p.m.