MANCHESTER, New Hampshire - Aguibou Balde accounted for more than half of the scoring as the American International College men's basketball team fell 76-61 to Saint Anselm College in a Northeast 10 Conference matchup on Saturday, January 24.

AIC is now 3-16 overall and 2-7 in the NE10.

The Hawks jumped to an early 5-0 lead, but AIC countered with an eight point run, with Balde scoring, stealing the ball, and scoring an and-one before Tony Felder knocked down a three. The lead changed hands three times from there before the hosts went on another run, building to a 21-10 advantage just past the midpoint of the half.

AIC turned it back up offensively, with Balde scoring eight of AIC's next 10 points and helping shrink the gap back to just three. Balde, along with Felder and Abdullah Mahamed, hit shots late to pull AIC within a 27-25 margin, but the Hawks hit two threes in the final 1:01 to lead by eight at halftime.

AIC's captain started the second half scoring, putting a shot home from Felder. It opened a half where the captain scored 15 points to go with his 16 in the first, shattering his career-best of 21. However, the rest of the offense could not keep up, and the Hawks pulled away to win 76-61.

Balde's 31 came on nine made field goals and 13 made free throws. Felder added 12 points and Coleman Hopson eight, with the trio accounting for 16 of AIC's 20 field goals and all 17 free throws made. 

AIC will next visit Pace University on Tuesday, January 27 for a 7:30 p.m. NE10 tipoff.