NEW HAVEN, Connecticut - Despite four players scoring in double digits and generating one of the best field goal percentages the team has posted all season, the American International College men's basketball team fell 88-74 to Southern Connecticut State University in Northeast-10 Conference play on Tuesday, February 11.

AIC is now 3-21 overall and 2-14 in the NE10.

The Yellow Jackets jumped on the Owls out of the gate, with two makes by Tyrae Washington and a three by Jack Hall from Lovre Zaja among the scoring as AIC led 9-2 less than five minutes in. However, the Owls countered quickly, taking a 12-9 lead on a 10-point run that Chase Nelson broke with a triple to re-tie the game. Southern Connecticut continued to rally, scoring 10 straight points before Justice Ellison broke the run with free throws.

AIC trailed by as much as 14, but late in the half went on a run of its own. Hall sank threes on back-to-back AIC possessions, and Ellison, Coleman Hopson, and Buka Peikrishvili all found the basket as well, with Peirkishvili's late and-one cutting AIC's halftime deficit back to just 43-37.

Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, the stoppage gave the Owls time to regroup, and another 10-point run to start the second proved to be the difference; AIC could never shrink the deficit back to single digits despite a second 37-point half as the Owls went 53.1 percent from the field in the 88-74 final.

Hall led AIC with 20, just ahead of Ellison's 18; Washington and Hopson each scored 10. On the Owls side, Antonio Chandler impressed with 35 on 15-of-18 shooting.

AIC returns to the friendly confines of the Butova Gymnasium on Saturday, February 15 to face Southern New Hampshire University. Tip-off is at 3:30 p.m.