Press Release

PURPLE KNIGHT MEN LOSE LEAD, FALL TO AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL Robertson tallies game-high 18 points in 71-68 setback  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      FOR MORE INFORMATION November 30, 2003                                                                    Contact: Seth Cole                                                                                                 Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Saint Michael’s College let a 13-point lead in the final eight minutes slip away in suffering a 71-68 loss to American International College in Northeast-10 Conference men’s basketball action on Sunday at the Ross Sports Center. Senior Andre Riley (Toronto, Ontario) scored nine of his team-high 16 points in a 15-2 Yellow Jackets’ run that evened the score at 61-all with 3:40 remaining. Freshman Brendan Mullins (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) tallied a free throw to give the Purple Knights their final lead at 62-61, but consecutive three-pointers by junior Richard Brown (Roosevelt, N.Y.) gave AIC the lead for good. Saint Michael’s began the game strong, racing out to a 14-4 lead just 5:52 into the contest. The hosts maintained their lead throughout the opening period, and led 33-31 heading into intermission. Senior Delbert Randall (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) and sophomore BJ Robertson (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) paced the Purple Knights in the opening 20 minutes with 10 points apiece. The Purple Knights took advantage of AIC foul trouble and slowly stretched their lead in the second half, with two free throws by freshman Chris Cayole (Burlington, Vt./Rice Memorial) giving Saint Michael’s its biggest lead at 59-46. The Yellow Jackets, however, used an 18-7 rebounding advantage in the final period to pull off the comeback victory. Riley also notched a team-high six rebounds. Brown finished with 14 points, while senior Shaaron Sinvilcin (Port Chester, N.Y.) posted 13 points and a team-best five assists for AIC (3-2, 1-1 NE-10). Robertson tallied a game-high 18 points for the Purple Knights, connecting on 7-of-10 field goals. Randall added 14 points, while sophomore Chase Graves (West Chester, Pa./Storm King) notched 11 points and six assists as the hosts shot 56 percent from the floor but were undone by 20 turnovers. Saint Michael’s (2-2, 0-2) returns to action on Wednesday, as the Purple Knights visit conference-rival Assumption College for a 7:30 p.m. tilt, before hosting Bryant College on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in the second game of a twinbill.  ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002