NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Southern Connecticut State University men's basketball team beats American International 72-61 in conference action at Henry A. Butova Gymnasium. With the win, the Owls improve to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in the NE10 while the Yellow Jackets drop to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
Isaiah McLeod (Cambridge, Mass.) led the Owls as he recorded a season-high 31 points while also nabbing seven rebounds.
Luke Beesley (Champaign, Ill.) registered 12 points and 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Southern took an early 6-2 lead where Beesley scored all six points for the Owls, the Yellow Jackets countered with a 14-3 run leading the Owls by seven.
- A hard fought first half as neither team led by more than one possession in the final eight minutes before halftime. Ulyen Coleman (Brockton, Mass.) hit a buzzer-beater layup to take a 36-34 lead going into halftime.
- AIC came out hot as they went on a 7-2 run taking a 41-38 lead. However, Southern took control fo the game going on a 14-3 run midway through the second to take a 11-point lead, their largest of the game.
- The Yellow Jackets came within five points with 3:35 remaining in the game, but back-to-back layups from C.J. Seaforth (Hamden, Conn.) Joey Wallace (Rochester, N.Y.) gave the Owls a nine-point cushion to seal the Owls win.
- McLeod was dominant in the game as he shot 11-for-20 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, this is the senior third straight game with 25+ points
NOTES
- With his 31-point night against the Yellow Jackets, McLeod passed Kevin Connors '76 for 16th place in career points at Southern Connecticut. He now stands at 1,315 and trails Daryle Breland '80 for 15th place with 1,359.
- McLeod was dominant in the game as he shot 11-for-20 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, this is the senior third straight game with 25+ points or more.
- Beesley's double-double was his fifth of the season. He's now pulled down double-digit rebounds in six of his last seven games. The senior post player also shot 6-of-6 from the floor to put his season shooting percentage at 73.2%.
- The Owls defense was their best of the season as they held AIC to 61 points the lowest they have held any opponent so far this year.
UP NEXT
The Owls will travel to Pace on Saturday, Dec. 8. They then head to Jefferson on Dec. 15 before returning home on Dec. 19 to host Concordia in the first of four-straight home dates.
