PLEASANTVILLE, NY- Junior Kyle Pearson posted his fourth consecutive double-double but the Setters came up short to the American International Yellow Jackets 71-65 in Northeast-10 Conference play.
 
The Setters fall to 3-8 overall and 0-6 in the NE-10, while the Yellow Jackets improve to 6-2 and 4-1 in conference play.
 
Pace found their shooting touch from the opening tip as they opened up an 11-4 lead in the first five minutes of play. Shelton Mickell connected on a pair from downtown while Mike Demello added one from long range to build the early lead for the Setters. The Yellow Jackets pulled even at 15 three minutes later and pulled ahead by as much as seven points with four minutes to play in the half. The Setters closed the half strong as they used a 10-0 run over the final four minutes to pull ahead 34-31 at the break. Khalil Brown started the run with a triple, while Demello totaled five points, including a trifecta with under a minute to play to key the rally.
 
Pearson extended the Pace lead to five points early in the second half but American International chipped away, eventually pulling even at 41 with 15:26 left in the game. The Yellow Jackets pushed ahead by five points but Mickell's triple and Pearson lay-up pulled the Setters even at 50 with 8:36 remaining in the contest.
 
American International retook the lead, extending to as much as nine points at 62-53 with four and a half minutes to play. The Setters made a final run as they used 10-0 run to go ahead by one at 63-62 at the 2:18 mark. Mickell hit his fourth three-ball of the game in the run, while Bryan Rivers hit a pair of free throws early and completed a three-point play to cap the run and give the Setters to lead.  
 
The Yellow Jackets tied the game on their ensuing possession with a free throw and went back in front with 1:26 left in the game on a bucket. From there, American International went 4-for-6 at the line in the final minute to hold off the Setters.
 
For the Setters, Pearson posted his fourth double-double in a row with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Mickell posted a team-high 17 points (4-for-8 from downtown) along with four rebounds. Demello also went 4-for-8 from long range, finishing with 16 points, while Rivers tallied six points and seven assists. Jared Pearson netted 11 points and a pair of steals off the bench.  

The Setters host Lincoln University on Thursday, December 18 at 7 pm at the Goldstein Fitness Center.