When and Where: January 10, 2024 – Manchester, N.H. (Stan Spirou Field House)
Score: Southern New Hampshire University 77, American International College 64
Records: SNHU 9-4 (5-3 NE10), AIC 5-9 (3-5 NE10)
Junior
Kurtis Henderson (Brockton, Mass.) recorded a career- and game-high 22 points, as the Southern New Hampshire University men's basketball team climbed out of a 14-point hole to defeat American International College, 77-64, Wednesday night at the Stan Spirou Field House.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Henderson – career-high 22 points (7-13 FG, 3-5 3-FG, 5-6 FT), 2 rebounds, 2 assists
- Graduate student Matt Becht (Vienna, Va.) – 17 points (5-9 FG, 4-7 3-FG, 3-3 FT), 6 rebounds, 4 assists
- Senior Preston Santos (Providence, R.I.) – 13 points (5-10 FG, 1-4 3-FG, 2-2 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 blocks
- Graduate student Alex Rivera (Lowell, Mass.) – 9 points (3-10 FG, 2-8 3-FG, 1-3 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 steals
KEY MOMENTS
- Five points from Henderson pushed Southern New Hampshire out to a 9-4 lead less than five minutes into the contest, but a 13-3 run from American International gave it a 17-12 advantage with a little more than nine minutes to go in the opening half. It was a one-point game with just over five-and-a-half to play when a 17-3 blitz opened up AIC's largest lead of the night at 39-25 with 14 seconds remaining. Becht would draw a foul shooting a 3-pointer right before the buzzer and knock down all three at the line to pull the Penmen within 39-28 at the break.
- That would be the start of a 13-2 run, which featured six points from Becht and five from Henderson, to trim the SNHU deficit to 41-38 less than five minutes into the second half. It was a five-point contest with 11:00 remaining when a Santos dunk sparked a 26-7 barrage that put the Penmen in front, 68-55, with 3:38 left. Becht led the way with eight during the stretch, while Rivera added seven, Henderson contributed five and Santos chipped in four. AIC would not get closer than 11 the rest of the way.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Junior Derrick Grant Jr. (Plainfield, N.J.) notched seven points (3-5 FG, 1-2 FT) and seven boards.
- Junior Jordan Brathwaite (Silver Spring, Md.) posted four points (2-6 FG) and three rebounds.
- Senior Noah Kamba (Lynn, Mass.) chipped in four points (1-2 FG, 2-2 FT).
- Southern New Hampshire outshot American International, 45.6 percent (26-57) to 35.5 percent (22-62), including 37 percent (10-27) to 19 percent (4-21) from deep.
- AIC shot it better from the line, 84.2 percent (16-19) to 75 percent (15-20).
- The Penmen won the glass (38-25), scored more second chance points (10-8) and more points on the fast break (15-9), received more scoring from their bench (18-15) and produced a better assist-to-turnover ratio (11/7-6/9), while the Yellow Jackets captured the paint (32-28) and scored more points off turnovers (9-7).
NOTES
- Southern New Hampshire, which halts a two-game skid, has won nine of its last 12. The 9-4 start is still the best for the program since it began the 2019-20 campaign 9-4.
- SNHU, which leads the all-time series, 32-19, has won eight of the last 10 meetings against the Yellow Jackets. The Penmen have also won five of the last six, including three straight, at home. AIC was last victorious on SNHU's court Jan. 20, 2018 (77-71).
- After scoring 10 total points through the first three games of the year, Santos is averaging 10.1 ppg over his last seven and has scored in double figures four times.
WHAT'S NEXT
- The Penmen are back in action Saturday, Jan. 13 (3:30 p.m.) when they play host to Southern Connecticut State University at the Stan Spirou Field House.
