SPRINGFIELD, Mass.- Despite cutting the Yellow Jackets' lead to just six points on a pair of occasions in the second half, the Pace University men's basketball team was unable to overcome a 15-point halftime deficit in a 72-60 loss at AIC on Wednesday night.
 
Inside the Numbers
*The Setters' offense was led by three in double figures, including 15 points each from Brandon Jacobs (Cambria Heights, NY/Long Island Lutheran) and Vinny Dalessandro (Levittown, PA/Conwell-Egan Catholic). Peyton Wejnert (Point Pleasant, NJ/Southern Regional) joined in with 14 points of his own.
 
*Wejnert also hauled in a team-high 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Dalessandro performed strong on the boards as well, nabbing seven rebounds.
 
*Jacobs swiped a team-best three steals while Dana Raysor (Willingboro, NJ/St. Patrick / Delaware State University) led the squad with four assists.
 
*The Blue and Gold's 60 points were their lowest total this season. Pace made just 22 total field goals, including a 5-for-23 (21.7 percent) effort from beyond the arc.

*The Setters outscored AIC in the second half, 36-33.
 
How it Happened
It was a red-hot start from AIC that set the tone in a big first half for the home team. The Yellow Jackets knocked in four-straight three-pointers to begin the contest, eventually leading to a 14-2 advantage less than five minutes into the game. On the other side, a few early turnovers along with a 1-of-6 start from the field made it difficult for Pace to keep up.
 
AIC's lead eventually grew to 27-10 mid-way through the first half. The Yellow Jackets would go on to take their largest advantage of the game a few minutes later after yet another three-pointer provided a 34-15 lead. Baskets in the final minute from Greg Poleon (Brooklyn, NY/Abraham Lincoln / Coffeyville CC) and Jacobs put the score at 39-24 at the break.
 
Undeterred by the halftime deficit, the Blue and Gold battled tough in the second half. Pace chipped away at the lead, with a three-pointer by Jacobs bringing it down to single digits at the 12:29 mark. Another long ball from Jacobs slimmed the edge to just six, 53-47, with 10 minutes left in regulation.
 
The Setters would go on to cut the lead to just six on one more occasion courtesy of a Raysor three-pointer at 4:13, but that would be as close as AIC would allow. A quick 8-2 spurt supplied the home team with enough cushion to pull away with the win.
 
Up Next
The Setters return home to host Le Moyne College on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Pace will be celebrating Military Appreciation Day during the men's and women's doubleheader.