Box Score MEN'S BASKETBALL DEFEATS AMERICAN
INTERNATIONAL, 82-72
SPRINGFIELD, MA - Senior guard Ryan Williams (Centreville, VA/Paul VI)
(Centreville, VA/Paul VI) scored a game-high 20 points to
lead the Pace University men's basketball team to an 82-72 victory
over the Yellow Jackets of American International College on
Tuesday night at Butova Gymnasium in a Northeast-10 Conference
game. The Setters improve to 12-13 overall on the season and 11-9
in NE-10 play, while the Yellow Jackets fall to 10-15 on the year,
7-12 in conference play. The win extends Pace's winning streak over
AIC to six straight games.
Williams shot 7-for-16 from the field, including going 4-for-9
from beyond the arc and 2-for-2 from the line for his game-high
total of 20 points. Classmate Desmond Quincy-Jones (Rye, NY/Rye) (Rye,
NY/Rye) recorded a double double with 18 points on
8-for-13 shooting from the field, to go along with a game-high 12
rebounds. Sophomore Laurence McGhee (Linden, NJ/Linden) (Linden,
NJ/Linden) finished with 14 points and seven assists,
while senior Gibraltar White (Gautier, MS/Gautier) (Gautier, MS/Gautier)
chipped in with 13 points. Junior Jon Jones (Dover, NH/Bridgton Academy) (Dover,
NH/Bridgton Academy) brought down 11 rebounds coming off
the bench.
AIC had five players in double figures led by Vernon Dupree's
team-high 16 points on 6-for-14 shooting from the field, including
going 2-for-3 from three and 2-for-4 from the line. Dupree also
added eight rebounds and four assists to his stat line. Lucius
Millinder added 14 points, while Mike Troll contributed with 12
points and seven assists coming off the bench. Aikeem Vanderhorst
had a solid all around game recording a double double with 11
points and a team-high 10 rebounds, to go with seven assists, while
Jeff Dosado also finished with 11 points.
The beginning of the half featured a tight sea-saw battle as
both teams looked to separate themselves. Pace would be first to
pull away pushing their lead to double figures halfway through the
half. Up by two, 17-15, with 12:30 remaining in the half, the
Setters used a 9-1 run to build their cushion to 10, 26-16, with
10:03 left. Both teams would trade baskets as Pace continued to
build upon their advantage. The Setters would lead by as many as 13
points on multiple occasions before taking an 11-point lead, 46-35,
into the locker room.
Pace pushed their lead to 15, 52-37, their largest of the game,
using a quick 6-2 run to begin the second half. The Yellow Jackets
would not go down easy, however, as AIC began to chip away at their
deficit and would eventually take their first lead since the
opening minutes of the first half. AIC benefited from a 25-8 run,
which gave them a two-point lead, 62-60, with 10:43 left in the
game. Dosado and Troll led the run scoring nine and seven points,
respectively. After another Troll three-pointer put the Yellow
Jackets back up by two, 65-63, with 8:17 remaining in the game, the
Setters used an 8-0 run to get back into the game and regain
control with a 71-65 lead with 5:51 left in the contest. Both teams
would trade baskets back and forth down the stretch, but Pace would
hit their free throws to ice the game and come away with the
10-point victory, 82-72.
The Setters benefited from a hot hand finishing the game
shooting 50.9% (29-for-57) from the field, while also going 81.8%
(18-for-22) from the stripe. Pace was just able to convert 35.3%
(6-for-17) from beyond the arc. The Yellow Jackets shot 42.9%
(24-for-56) from the field, including 47.4% (9-for-19) from three,
while going 15-for-21 (71.4%) from the line. Pace also out
rebounded AIC 35-31.
Pace returns to action this Saturday, February 23rd,
as the Setters will play host to the Dolphins of Le Moyne College
in a key Northeast-10 Conference match up. Tip-off is scheduled for
3:30 p.m.
