BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – Despite 30 points from sophomore Alonzo Ortiz-Traylor and double-figure scoring contributions from freshmen Seth Goumba and Kendell Ogilvie, the LIU Post men's basketball team narrowly fell 72-64 to American International College Wednesday afternoon inside the Pratt Recreation Center.
 
Along with his game-high 30 points that came on 13-of-24 shooting Ortiz-Traylor also had a team-high nine rebounds. The game marked the third time this season he has scored 30 or more points.
 
Goumba, last week's East Coast Conference Rookie of the Week, finished with 15 points and three rebounds while Ogilvie added 13 points and made 3-of-4 three pointers.
 
LIU Post got off to a strong start as Ogilvie and Ortiz-Traylor both knocked down three-pointers inside the opening two minutes. With the score tied 6-6, Goumba sunk a shot from behind the three-point line with 17:18 on the clock to give the Pioneers a 9-6 lead. Freshman Nah'Jel Sands extended the Pioneers' lead to four after making a jumper in the paint with 16:34 left in the half that put LIU Post up 11-7.
 
A Goumba jump shot with 14:12 remaining in the half saw the Green & Gold take a 17-12 lead then a pair of free throws by Sands gave LIU Post its biggest lead of the game, 19-12.
 
While AIC went into halftime with a 42-33 advantage the Pioneers kept the game close in the second as Ortiz-Traylor poured in 19 points in 17 minutes. The Yellow Jackets took a 14-point lead with 16:45 left to play but the Pioneers battled back and cut it just five with 8:08 remaining after an Ortiz-Traylor three-pointer.
 
While Goumba made a jumper with 35 seconds left to play, American International managed to hold off the Pioneers as the game ended with a final score of 72-64.
 
Up Next
LIU Post returns to the Pratt Recreation Center on Wednesday, Jan. 2 at 3:00 p.m. when it hosts Southern Connecticut State University (7-5, 4-2 NE10).