PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. - 11 different Setters scored, including four players in double digits, as the Pace University men's basketball team (4-0, 1-0 NE10) tipped off conference play with a dominant home win against American International College (2-2, 0-1 NE10) on Saturday afternoon, 78-51.
The Blue and Gold have now recorded four straight victories to start the 2021-22 season. The Setters have also won 10 consecutive November games, dating back to 2019-20.
Pace's well-balanced attack was steered by junior
Brandon Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush), whose 19 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two steals, were all team-highs. Overall, Powell shot 60% from the field (6-of-10), including 50% (3-of-6) from downtown.
Not to be outdone by his twin brother, junior
Bryan Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Canterbury School) also shot 50% from beyond the arc (1-of-2), on 66% shooting overall (6-of-9), for 14 points, five rebounds himself, two assists, and a block for good measure.
Combined, the twins were responsible for 42% of the Setters' points, and shot 63% from the field.
Coming off a scintillating 29-point/13-rebound performance in Pace's last game, graduate student
Dominick Cristiano (Valhalla, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic/Greens Farm Academy) took only seven shots against the Yellow Jackets, but he made six of them for 14 points, as well as contributing five rebounds to tie him for the team lead.
Another graduate student's fingerprints were also all over the game. Guard
Brandon Jacobs (Cambria Heights, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) dished out six assists, ripped away two steals, and knocked down 3-of-6 three-pointers for 11 points.
The Setters were red-hot from the field all day, making 11 threes, on 40.7% from the beyond the arc, and shooting 47.4% overall.
Pace won both halves by at least 12 points, and never trailed in the contest. The Blue and Gold's bench outscored AIC's by a 39-16 margin.
The defense held the Yellow Jackets to just 33.3% shooting, including a paltry 15% from three, with 23 Setter points coming from turnovers.
Up Next
The Setters head to West Haven, Conn. on Tuesday night for an NE10 clash with the New Haven Chargers (3-1, 0-1 NE10).
