MEN'S BASKETBALL EDGES DOWLING 68-65
OAKDALE, N.Y.. (November 15,
2006) - Magen McNeil (Philadelphia, Pa.)
recorded 17 points and six rebounds as the American International
College men's basketball team erased an 11-point first half deficit
to post a 68-65 win over Dowling College at St. John's Wednesday
evening. The game was the season opener for both schools.
McNeil shot 8-15 from the floor and scored 15 of his 17 points in the first 20 minutes. Jeff Dosado (Montreal, Quebec) scored 11 points and added three assists and three steals, while Vernon Dupree (Wilmington, Del.) added 10 points. Genc Selimi led three Golden Lions in double figures with 16 points.
Dowling controlled the early portion of the game and opened up a 21-11 lead with 8:14 left on a three-pointer by Selimi. The Yellow Jackets would then run off 11 unanswered points to tie the game at 21 on an alley-oop dunk by McNeil with 4:24 left. AIC would score the last five points of the first half and a dunk by McNeil with 47 seconds left gave the Yellow Jackets a 28-26 halftime lead.
The second half saw 22 lead changes as the two teams traded the lead. Dowling would eke out a 52-48 lead with 8:07 left on a Selimi basket. The Yellow Jackets would then on on a 9-1 run and a three-pointer by Dosado with with just over five minutes remaining to make it 57-53. The Golden Lions would reclaim the lead with 3:29 left on a Nick Flagg basket, but Jenar Harrison (Queens, N.Y.) would score 22 seconds later to make it 61-60 and give AIC the lead for good. Dowling had one final chance to tie the game late but John Kouvelas missed a three with five seconds left.
AIC shot 63% (17-27) in the second half and 50% for the game, while both teams shot 50% from three-point land (AIC 5-10, Dowling 10-20). The Yellow Jackets outrebounded Dowling 37-31.
The Yellow Jackets return to action Saturday
when they travel to Bryant for a non-conference game starting at
7:30 pm.