SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College men's basketball team dropped a 72-69 matchup to Queens College on Wednesday, January 7.

AIC is now 2-12 on the season.

Both teams came out of the gate scoring quickly, with each side making a three early and the score being tied three times after 0-0; Blair Thomas drew a foul while making a shot to give AIC an 11-9 lead and finished the and-one after the first media timeout. AIC extended the lead from there, with Coleman Hopson and Amadou Diallo each sinking threes, the latter of which put AIC ahead 20-10.

Over the next 10 minutes of play, the Knights began to claw back into the game; AIC still led by five at the final media timeout of the first, and was able to hold it from there as both teams traded buckets. Tony Felder scored the final five Yellow Jackets points of the frame, and AIC took a 36-30 edge into the break.

Early in the second, Queens completed its comeback, drawing to within one less than seven minutes in as the Knights outscored the Yellow Jackets 14-7 in the early stages of the half. Just shy of the 11-minute mark, the visitors tied the game, and on their next possession hit a three to take a 51-50 lead. 

The score saw three more ties before a Queens six-point run put the Knights up multiple possessions. That lead stretched to as much as nine just after the final media timeout of the game, but a Felder and-one and then three points on two possessions by Aguibou Balde pulled AIC within three with under 2:00 to play.

AIC trailed by five in the final minute, and Pierce Prednergast put in a layup with four seconds to go. The Yellow Jackets had to make a defensive play on the inbound and did, forcing a bad pass that went out of bounds and gave the hosts hope for one tying shot. The chance clanked off the rim, however, leaving the Knights with a 72-69 win.

Balde led AIC with 16 points and eight rebounds; Felder scored 15 points and dished five assists while drawing eight fouls, and Hopson contributed 10 points. 

The Yellow Jackets resume Northeast 10 Conference play on Saturday, January 10 at 3:30 p.m. against Assumption University.