PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Keon Williams (Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack/Iona College) (Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack/Iona College) recorded a double-double with 25 points and 12 rebounds as the Setters rallied back from a double-digit deficit to clip the Yellow Jackets of American International College 63-61 in Northeast-10 Conference action. The Setters improve to 3-1 overall and even their NE-10 record at 1-1, while American International falls to 2-2 and 0-2 in conference play.
The Setters fell behind 7-0 over the first minutes of play as American International stretched their lead to 12 points at 25-13 with 5:39 left in the opening half. Pace chipped away, closing to within two points at 29-26 with under a minute to play and headed to halftime trailing the Yellow Jackets 32-26.
American International added to their lead, pulling ahead by eight points early in the second half. Pace chipped away as they pulled even at 37-37 with 15:28 left in the game on a pair of free throws by Jonathan Merceus (Union, NJ/Union) (Union, NJ/Union). The Yellow Jackets took back the lead as they jumped out to a seven-point lead at 48-41 near the midpoint of the second half.
The Setters ripped off the next seven points to pull even as 48 as Merceus connected on a lay-up, while Jaylen Mann (Youngstown, OH/Liberty) (Youngstown, OH/Liberty) nailed a triple. Williams even the score at the 8:33 mark with a pair of free throws. The teams traded points over the next five minutes but the Setters took control late as William put-back with 3:44 left in the game put the Setters in front for good, while Mann added a three-points with 2:42 on the clock. The Yellow Jackets pulled to within two points with 1:28 left in the game, which proved to be the final points on the contest. Both team could not record any points in the final minute as it came down to the final second as Pace's Ahmad George (Bowie, MD/Archbishop Carroll) (Bowie, MD/Archbishop Carroll) blocked a potential game-winning three-points attempt from the top of the key as time expired to give Pace a two-point victory.
Williams led the Setters with his double-double, while Mann shot 4-for-9 from downtown, finishing with 14 points and nine rebounds. Denzel Primus-Devonish (Riverdale, MD/St. John's College) had another all-around game with 15 points and five assists, while Merceus grabbed seven rebounds and added three steals.
The Setters return to action on Sunday, November 25 as they will travel to Worcester, MA for an NE-10 game against Assumption College at 3:30 pm.
