SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College men's basketball team shrank a 26-point deficit down to as little as seven, but ultimately fell 76-63 to league-leading Saint Anselm College in Northeast 10 Conference play on Saturday, February 21.

AIC is now 5-22 overall and 4-13 in the NE10.

The Hawks shocked AIC with a 13-0 run to start the game in the first 4:10 before Chase Nelson sank a three to give the Yellow Jackets their first points. By the 7:43 mark, the lead had grown to 20 as the Hawks responded to Nelson's make with a 12-2 burst. AIC did score four straight, with Aleksy Walczak and Aguibou Balde scoring, but again the visiting side responded with a long run, taking a 32-9 lead before AIC's next bucket.

The Hawks grew the lead to as much as 26 before AIC finally leveled the game off and began clawing back. Nelson landed multiple shots from deep, and Walczak hit from range to end the half, as AIC shaved nine points off the deficit. However, the Yellow Jackets still trailed 51-34 at the break.

The teams went back-and-forth over the early stages of the second, and while the Hawks did grow the lead back to 21 at one point, AIC kept in it. The gap shrank to 14 after Balde found Blair Thomas open for a three, and Tony Felder later hit a shot to cut it to 13 with 7:48 to play.

On the next possession, Thomas sank two free throws to close further. AIC clearly believed it could come back, and Felder made it single digits with five straight points to get AIC within a 66-58 margin with 5:06 to go. 

However, the Hawks had one more run in them, and an eight-point spurt put the game away as they earned the 76-63 win.

Balde, Felder, and Nelson each scored 12, while Thomas notched 11. Balde also grabbed seven boards and dished five assists.

Prior to the game, the team honored its seniors during its Senior Day ceremony. They first recognized their Team IMPACT Teammate, Shawn Hall, and then the team's three seniors: Felder, Abdullah Mahamed, and Balde. 

AIC has one remaining game in the season, a 7:30 p.m. tipoff against Adelphi University on Tuesday, February 24.