Tim Beinert leads Hounds past unbeaten A.I.C., 97-91, in OT

December 2, 2009

Assumption 97, American International 91

WORCESTER, Mass. ---Sophomore forward TIM BEINERT (Floral Park, NY/Holy Cross) scored 19 points to lead four double-figure scorers as Assumption College defeated previously unbeaten American International College, 97-91, in a Northeast-10 Conference mens basketball overtime thriller WEDNESDAY at the Laska Gym.

The Greyhounds, now 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the conference, are a half-game behind Stonehill (3-0) and A.I.C. (4-1) in the conference standings, tied with Bentley and Adelphi. American International is now 4-2 overall.

The Greyhound defense was also a factor as it created 27 turnovers and ended with 13 steals. American International outrebounded the Greyhounds, 49 43, and owned a 12-7 advantage on the offensive glass. Beinert finished with a stat filled game, fur rebounds, three assists, five blocked shots and three steals.

Senior guard/captain COURTLAND BLUFORD (Ft. Washington, MD/Saint Vincent Pallotti) (42 minutes played, 18 points, four assists, three steals), junior forward/captain MIKE BALDARELLI (Sutton, MA/Holy Name) (18 points, eight rebounds) and freshman guard BOBBY HARRIS (Berlin, NJ/Eastern Regional) (16 points, 10 rebounds) and freshman point guard RYAN ROZSNAKI (Montreal, Quebec/Landstown, VA) (six points, season-high 10 assists) all played well in support roles for the Greyhounds. Bluford now has 955 points as he edges toward the magic 1,000-point plateau for his career.

Sophomore guard ISIAH WALLACE (Springfield, MA/Sabis International) had a monster game for the Yellow Jackets with a double-double 28 points and 13 rebounds, while senior forward AIKEEM VANDERHORST (Bay Shore, NY/Bay Shore) (17 points, seven rebounds), freshman forward RICKY HUDSON (Sewell, NY/Washington Township) (16 points) and sophomore guard ADRIAN HYNES-GUERY (Montreal, Quebec/Dawson College) (11 points, eight rebounds) played well in support roles.

American International led, 45-43, at the half as Hudson led the way with 12 points however the Greyhounds moved ahead in the second half and led by eight, 77-69, with 3:43 left on a steal and layin by Bluford. They still led by seven points (80-73) with 1:10 left before the Yellow Jackets went on a 8-1 spurt to tie the game on a layin by Wallace with seven seconds left. Bluford's three-pointer at the buzzer rimmed and fell out.

The Yellow Jackets came out quickly in the overtime as Wallace scored on a nifty move inside from Vanderhorst and then junior forward ANTHONY THOMAS (Baltimore, MD/North County) scored a conventional three-pointer on an inside move to give the Jackets a five-point lead at 86-81.

Harris then drilled a corner three-pointer and Rozsnaki made two free throws to tie the game with 3:03 left. A free throw by Baldarelli was countered by two by Wallace as A.I.C. went back in front, 88-87, before Harris nailed another three pointer from the top-of-the-circle.

Junior forward BYRON RICHARDS (Adelphia, MD/DeMatha Catholic) then hit a straightway three-pointer as A.I.C. took its final lead, 91-90, with 1:16 left.

Rozsnaki then scored inside off his own steal to give the Hounds the edge (92 91) and then Beinert blocked a shot inside by senior guard MIKE TROLL (New York, NY/Cardozo). Harris made three-of-four free throws and and Rozsnaki added two more to the final six-point margin.

The Greyhounds are next in action at conference rival Le Moyne College SATURDAY at 3:30 p.m. American International is at Adelphi, also on Saturday.

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