PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Junior forward
Austin Mofunanya (Englewood, NJ/Dwight Morrow / Lincoln College of NE) picked up his second double-double of the season and helped the Pace University men's basketball team erase a 15-point deficit, but the Setters' comeback bid fell short in the final minutes, as they took a 72-64 loss to American International College (AIC) Saturday afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference action at the Goldstein Fitness Center. The Setters fall to 9-16 on the year and 6-11 in NE-10 play with the loss, while AIC improves to 11-13 and takes a half-game lead over the Setters in the Southwest Division standings at 7-11 in conference play.
Mofunanya matched his season-high with 18 points in Saturday's matchup. The former Junior College All-American set a new season-best with 13 rebounds.
As it stands, the Setters hang on to a playoff spot as the No. 5 seed in the Southwest Division. AIC sits one-half game ahead in fourth place. The College of Saint Rose, Pace's next opponent, is currently third in the division with an 8-9 conference record.
The Setters fell into a deep hole midway through the first half when Cameron Dobbs hit a three to put the Yellow Jackets up, 33-18. The Setters flipped the switch to score the next eight points, capped off with a three by freshman forward
Ryan Peterson (Wethersfield, CT/St. Thomas More), to cut the deficit to seven. Mofunanya later scored five-straight points for the Setters to make it a five-point game, but AIC doubled its lead over the next minute to make it 43-33. Mofunanya closed out the half with a free throw to leave the Setters down by nine at the break.
AIC kept its distance from the Setters for much of the second frame until a contested jumper by freshman forward
Luke McLaughlin (Blauvelt, NY/Tappan Zee) hit the bottom of the net to make it a three-point game with 6:39 to play. Rasheed Howard later put AIC back up by five, but a three by sophomore guard
Bryan Rivers (West Windsor, NJ/Peddie School) got Pace back within two. Mofunanya drew a foul on the next possession, and made both shots to tie the game at 60 and get everyone in the crowd out of their seats.
After a timeout, AIC drew back-to-back fouls, making just the front end of each opportunity to go up, 62-60. The Setters were unable to convert a pair of tough layups, and the Yellow Jackets were once again sent to the line. Howard hit both shots this time, putting the visitors up, 64-60, with 2:59 to play.
Rivers got himself to the charity stripe with 2:10 to go, making both shots to get back within a pair. Nolan Woodward then made two foul shots to make it a four-point game once again. The Setters could not get a three to go, and once again had to foul the Yellow Jackets. Jayvon Pitts-Young made the second of two chances to make it a five-point contest. Senior guard
Shelton Mickell (Queens, NY/Cardozo / Central Connecticut State) managed to finish a difficult layup with 47 ticks on the clock, but that capped off the scoring for the Setters, as the Yellow Jackets scored five-straight points to close out the game.
Rivers led all scorers with 23 points in the game, including nine free throws. Mickell finished with 10 points, while Peterson grabbed eight rebounds.
Dobbs led the Yellow Jackets with 22 points, including four three-pointers. Pitts-Young tallied 18 and dished out four assists, while Howard scored 10 and pulled down eight boards.
The Setters will look to bounce back on Wednesday, Feb. 17, when they host the College of Saint Rose in a critical NE-10 matchup at the Goldstein Fitness Center. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. following the women's basketball matchup between the Setters and Golden Knights.
For all information regarding Pace University men's basketball, log on to
www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace men's basketball on Twitter (
@PaceMBB).
