GARDEN CITY, New York – The American International College men's basketball team overcame an early 11-point deficit but ultimately fell 60-44 at Adelphi University in Northeast 10 Conference play on Wednesday, December 3.
AIC is now 1-6 overall and 0-1 in the NE10.
Adelphi hit a three on the game's first possession, but Tony Felder answered with a long three of his own, and several trips down the floor later added another two with a fadeaway jumper from the right. Adelphi was able to tie the game with a midrange shot, then took the lead on the next possession with a dunk, leading 7-5 at the first media timeout. Aguibou Balde drew contact while going up for a shot, and out of the stoppage hit one free throw.
After both teams came up empty on multiple possessions, Chase Nelson sank a three from the right, only to have Adelphi counter in the same way at the other end. The Panthers then took advantage of an AIC mishandle to score a breakaway dunk. Abdullah Mahamed drove in on AIC's next possession and drew free throws, making both, and Balde was able to convert a floater to regain the lead, only for Adelphi to again strike from long range and then score a driving layup.
AIC drew another foul just past the midpoint of the half, leading to the under-12 media timeout. Adelphi notched the next bucket of the game, a three, with 8:32 to play, forcing AIC to use a 30-second timeout, and continued to add to the lead with a layup and a breakaway dunk. At the under-eight stoppage, AIC trailed 24-13.
The Yellow Jackets finally added to their total again with a left-wing three, and after a Panthers free throw, Balde won the battle down low to score a layup. Adelphi then knocked in a short range shot, but Mahamed drew a foul and made one of the free throws. Felder then danced to the net on the next possession to score a layup, cutting the gap to 28-21 at the final media timeout of the half.
Felder then added a pair of free throw makes to shrink the deficit more, and then set up Nelson for a right-side deep three. Adelphi finally broke AIC's run with a three of its own, but Felder found Mahamed open under the hoop for a slam to keep the game close. Mahamed was then fouled grabbing the rebound of a Panthers miss, earning a one-and-one and making the first. Felder later went to the line for another one-and-one and hit both to tie the game. Adelphi called its 30-second timeout with 11.2 to play in the half, looking to draw up a play. The shot missed, and the teams were tied heading to the break.
After both teams came up empty early in the second half, the Panthers scored first on a reverse layup, and then added an and-one for a quick five-point lead. Coleman Hopson made a turnaround shot for AIC's first of the frame, although Adelphi negated the scoring with two of its own on the next possession. At the first media timeout of the half, Adelphi led 38-33.
Adelphi added one point with a free throw, and then the game went scoreless for more than two minutes before Felder found Aleksy Walczak open on the left for three. The Panthers countered with their own triple, and then knocked in another, giving the hosts a 45-36 lead at the under-12.
It took nearly three minutes for the next points to be scored, which were on an Adelphi jumper from the free throw line, but Balde stopped AIC's drought with a driving layup. A Panthers dunk was answered with a Felder layup, but the Panthers took advantage of a turnover to score again. Adelphi led 51-40 with 6:00 left.
Felder kept his scoring going, sinking a three from the right corner, but the Panthers again landed one of their own to counter. Another make built the lead to its largest of the night as Adelphi went up 13. The hosts added from there, and ultimately won 60-44.
Felder led AIC with 19 points, while Balde's eight assists were AIC's high and one more than Felder's seven.
AIC next hosts Pace University on Saturday, December 6 at 3:30 p.m.
