Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Saint Anselm College outscored the American International College men's basketball team 39-25 in the second half on its way to a 68-51 Northeast-10 victory Saturday afternoon at Butova Gymnasium.
The Hawks shot 52.8 percent (28-53) from the floor as they improved to 13-7 overall and 9-6 in the NE-10, while the Yellow Jackets shot just 40 percent (20-50) from the field in falling to 9-11 overall and 7-8 in conference play.
AIC was down by just three at the half, 29-26, but Saint Anslem opened the second frame with a 15-2 run to open a 44-28 lead with 12:52 to go in the contest. The Yellow Jackets then went on an 11-3 run to pull back within eight, 47-39, with 8:52 to go and were down just seven, 55-48, after a layup from senior forward
Aikeem Vanderhorst (Bay Shore, N.Y.) with 4:47 on the clock.
Senior guard Greg Vetrano (Andover, Mass.) answered with a three on the ensuing possession that triggered a 13-3 run for the Hawks to close the game.
Vanderhorst finished with a game-high 16 points, going 6-for-10 from the floor and 4-for-7 at the line, with five boards and three steals. Sophomore forward
Isiah Wallace (Springfield, Mass.) added 14 points with seven boards and three blocked shots, while freshman guard
Ricky Hudson (Sewell, N.J.) netted 11 points with three boards and three assists.
Sophomore forward Jack Keough (Owego, N.Y.) filled the score sheet with 16 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists to lead Saint Anselm, while Vetrano finished with 12 points, five assts and two steals. Junior guard Pat Luptowski (Keene, N.H.), the son of AIC head coach
Art Luptowski, netted 10 points with five boards, five assists and four steals.
The Hawks converted 23 Yellow Jacket turnovers into 30 points, 20 of which came in the second half, while AIC scored just 13 points off 14 Saint Anselm miscues.
The Yellow Jackets will look to get back on track Wednesday when they travel to the University of New Haven for a 7:30 p.m. Northeast-10 contest.