AIC Stings FPC, 62-60
Saavedra nails three-pointer at the buzzer to lift Yellow Jackets to victory

RINDGE, N.H. (February 2, 2002) - Senior point guard Ulises Deniz Saavedra nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to lift American International College to a 62-60 victory over Franklin Pierce University
in a key Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball matchup at the FP
Fieldhouse this afternoon.

Saavedra's buzzer-beater was his first basket of the second half after he led AIC with 14 first-half points, including a last-second three to give the Yellow Jackets a 32-30 advantage at the break. He finished the afternoon hitting six-of-nine from the field, including 5-6 from three-point range, to go along with three assists and four steals.

Saavedra's gamewinning shot came just seconds after FP
sophomore Derek Rodgerson (Newburgh, Maine/Hampden Academy) drained a three-pointer to put the Ravens up 61-59 with eight seconds on the clock.

AIC senior Malik Moore quickly worked the ball up the court, driving to the lane before kicking the ball out to a wide-open Saavedra.

Moore led all scorers with 20 points, shooting 7-14 from the field, including three three-pointers, and also totaled seven rebounds and four assists. Sophomore guard Shaaron Sinvilcin added 12 points, seven boards, five assists and two steals.

Rodgerson led FP
with 17 points, aided by a 5-8 effort from long-distance, and three assists. Junior Tom Waterman (Bangor, Maine/Bangor) totaled 12 points, hitting 3-4 three's, six assists and three steals. Classmate V.J. Kwity (Torrance, Calif./West) finished with 11 points (all first half), four assists and three steals.

American International registered a 32-22 rebounding advantage and finished the afternoon shooting 48-percent (24-50) from the field compared to 44.4% (20-45) for Franklin Pierce.

FP
(11-10, 8-9 NE-10) returns to action on Tuesday when it travels to Bentley College at 7:30 p.m. American International (10-10, 8-8 NE-10) hosts Saint Anselm College on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.