SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - In a game that saw twists, controversial calls, and multiple blown double-digit leads, Tony Felder's last-second shot was the difference in a 73-72 Northeast 10 Conference win for the American International College men's basketball team over Southern New Hampshire University on Saturday, January 31.

AIC is now 5-16 on the season with a 4-7 NE10 mark.

AIC trailed 72-67 with 57 seconds to play after the Penmen hit free throws, and after a Coleman Hopson shot missed were in danger of falling out of contention, but Chase Nelson won the rebound and found Felder open for three; the senior hit, and AIC took a timeout.

The Yellow Jackets fouled on the subsequent possession, and the Penmen missed their free throw, with Hopson rebounding to give AIC a chance for magic.

Down to mere moments, Pierce Prendergast took the ball into the right corner, looking for an option. He fired back to Hopson cutting across the arc to the right side. The Penmen charged at him and he spun back left, pulling defenders with him, then flipped the ball to Felder on his right. With barely a second remaining, the senior, falling back, fired.

Swish.

The Penmen did have a chance, with 0.7 seconds left on the clock at the make, but their last heave clanked the front of the rim to end the game.

AIC pulled out to a 10-2 lead inside the first three minutes of regulation, with Aguibou Balde hitting a three to start the contest. The Yellow Jackets led by as much as 12 near the midpoint of the first after a Nelson triple from Hopson, but the Penmen flew back into the game and took the lead less than six minutes later, getting ahead by as much as 10 before taking a 35-29 lead into the locker room at halftime.

For most of the second, AIC drew close, only to be pushed away by a key Penmen make. Hopson tied the game at 52-52 with 8:56 to go, but the Penmen restored their 10-point edge over the next 4:37, outscoring AIC 17-7.

The next play was arguably the biggest of the game other than Felder's final make, and the senior was at the center of it. He took a pass on the right side and drilled a three. As the ball flew through the air, a foul away from the ball was called. It was the 10th foul for the Penmen in the half.

The officials, after conferring as well as reviewing the footage of the play, awarded AIC two free throws, as the foul was considered a loose-ball foul, bringing the double bonus into play. Balde took and made both, giving AIC an exceedingly rare five-point play, halving the deficit and positioning the team for Felder's finish in the final minute.

Nelson scored 18 to lead AIC, while Felder notched 17 and Hopson 16. Balde scored 11, missing a double-double by one rebound as he had nine.

AIC will look for its third-straight win as the Yellow Jackets next visit Franklin Pierce University on Wednesday, February 4 at 7:30 p.m.