WEST HAVEN, Conn. – A three point shot at the buzzer rimmed out as the University of New Haven men's basketball team (5-5, 2-4 Northeast-10) dropped a 55-53 decision to American International, completing the first round of Southwest Division play in the NE10. Leading the Chargers on the day was junior Mihailo Vasic (Novi Sad, Serbia) who completed a double double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Leading all New Haven scorers was junior Danny Upchurch (Bridgeport, Conn./Notre Dame Catholic) who finished with 15 points while adding five rebounds and six assists. Vasic led the Chargers shooting efforts connecting on five of his eight field goal attempts while also going 3-of-5 at the free throw line. As a team, New Haven finished the day shooting 32.2 percent on 19-of-59 with six of those baskets from beyond the three point line, while also going 9-of-13 at the free throw line.

Rounding out the leading scorers for the Blue and Gold was sophomore Michael Bourke (South Orange, N.J./The Hun School of Princeton) who chipped in 11 points while freshman Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) scored eight. Vasic's 10 rebounds tied freshman Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) for the team lead as New Haven finished with a 47-31 advantage on the boards. The 47 rebounds for the Chargers is the most this season.

FIRST HALF NOTES

·         After giving up a layup on the Yellow Jackets first possession of the day, the Chargers would regain an advantage thanks to a Vasic tip-in and held that lead from the next 18 minutes.

·         Midway through the opening half, New Haven put together a 7-1 run which resulted in its largest lead of the game. Included in that rally were a pair of three pointers from Bourke while a free throw from Bailey led to the 18-10 lead for the Blue and Gold.

·         After trading the lead with just under a minute to play, the Chargers trailed 26-22 at the break following a Yellow Jacket five point rally over the final 24 seconds of the half.

·         Leading the Chargers in the opening half was Bailey who scored all eight of his points in the game in the first 20 minutes. He closed out the half with a pair of three pointers while also converting two of his four free throw attempts.

·         Overall, New Haven finished with four three pointers in the opening half with the remaining two coming from Bourke during New Haven's 7-1 run.

·         The Chargers finished the first half with a 22-18 advantage on the boards, led by Felizor who pulled in five, while seven total players finished with at least one.

SECOND HALF NOTES

·         AIC came out of the break and score the first two baskets before New Haven scored the next four points on a jumper from Upchurch and a tip-in from Vasic. 

·         Again facing an eight point deficit, the Chargers offense heated up, rattling off right straight over a 2:30 stretch to tie the game at 34 with 13:43 remaining. Upchurch began that rally with a three pointer while Vasic provided the next five points, including three on an old fashioned three point play.

·         The Blue and Gold faced their largest deficit (49-40) with 6:25 remaining, but answered that by scoring the next seven points to pull within a basket. This 7-0 run for the Chargers took just 95 seconds and included a pair of layups from Upchurh and a three pointer from Bourke.

·         New Haven would keep its deficit no larger than four points down the stretch with a number of opportunities at tying the game. Following a missed front end of a one-and-one, the Chargers had the final possession with 13.6 seconds remaining, however an open look three pointer off the fingertips of Upchurch rattled off the iron as the final buzzer sounded.

·         Upchurch and Vasic led the Chargers scoring in the second half as they each finished with 11 points. Vasic's 11 came as he shot 4-of-6 for the half, while also securing a team-best eight rebounds in 15 minutes of work. As a team, New Haven outrebounded AIC 25-13 in the second half.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·         The double double for Vasic is his team-leading third of the season and his first since the NE10 opener against Le Moyne. He has now recorded double digit rebounds in four games in his first season as a Charger.

·         Defensively, New Haven held the Yellow Jackets more than 15 points under their season average of 70.5 per game.

·         Upchurch has dished out six or more assists in all but two games on the season and his 65 assists is more than any player from last season and third most in the NE10 through 10 games in 2016-17.

·         The 47 rebounds for New Haven as a team is its most this season as they continue to outrebound their opponents for the year by 2.8 per game. It is also the third time this season that two players have pulled in double digit rebounds in the same game.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·         Junior Mihailo Vasic (Novi Sad, Serbia) has recorded a team-best three double doubles on the year, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds for @GoChargersMBB

·         .@GoChargersMBB finished with a 47-31 advantage on the boards, the sixth game of the year New Haven has outrebounded its opponent

·         .@GoChargersMBB JR point guard Danny Upchurch (Bridgeport, Conn./Notre Dame Catholic) has dished out six or more assists in all but two games this season

NEXT ON TAP
New Haven continues a series of five straight home games with their final non-conference game before the Holiday Break when they host the Georgian Court Lions on Tuesday, December 13. Tip off on Ugly Sweater Day at Charger Gym is slated for 7:00 p.m.