WATERBURY, Conn. – An electric evening in the Drubner Center for the home opener of the 2023-24 season for Post University Men's Basketball did not disappoint as the Eagles nearly led wire-to-wire in the affair, emerging with a 15-point victory over the Yellow Jackets behind junior forward Deng Deang's second double-double of the season and junior point guard Robert Sanders' 25-point performance, 84-69.

THE BASICS

Post University 84, American International College 69

Post University (3-0)

American International College (2-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Utilizing their full-court press, Post University would open up with an 11-2 run as Sanders scored seven of the first 11 points for the Eagles. AIC would respond in kind with a 10-4 stretch as their figured out the Post press on defense to pull within two points, 14-12, after a layup from junior guard Justice Ellison brought his point total to six points in the game.
 
That would be the closest the Yellow Jackets would be able to get in the first half as the full-court press combined with scorching hot shooting from the Eagles to the tune of a field goal percentage of 56.7% and 19 first-half points from Deang on 7-of-8 shooting helped them open up a 16-point lead at halftime.
 
Leading by seven points, 29-22, an 8-0 run gave the Eagles their first double-digit lead which at the time ballooned to 15 points, 37-22. The largest lead of the first half for Post came after junior guard Cape Holden hit a deep corner three and was fouled by sophomore guard Jack Hall for a free throw opportunity which he would convert on. Deang's two free throws from the charity stripe with 1:13 left in the half would give the Eagles their 45-29 halftime lead and the forward's 19 total points.
 
Out of the break, the Post lead would grow to 20 points after a layup by Sanders, 52-32, and end up going up by 21 points after a three from senior forward Derrick Thomas II with 14:21 remaining in regulation. A 5-1 stretch for the Eagles which ignited the crowd with junior forward Kyle Alcy's dunk and a three from junior point guard Bol Akot made it 70-42, a 28-point advantage for Post.
 
However, the Yellow Jackets would be unrelenting in their pursuit to get back in the game, trimming their deficit to 11 points with 2:04 remaining in regulation after a three from sophomore forward Jack Hall made it a 78-67 ballgame. That would be the closest AIC would make it as the Eagles held steady to their lead, emerging from the fast-paced matchup, 84-69.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Deng Deang had his second double-double in three games for Post University with 24 points and 12 rebounds
• In his first season with the team, Robert Sanders set a new career-high scoring 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting and 4-for-8 from three-point range
• Post University shot a season-high 52.5% from the field and were on par with their three-point shooting for the season with a 36.8% finish
• Post University is 3-0 to start the year for first time since the 2019-20 season and second time in program history

WHO'S NEXT
Post University hits the road this weekend for the St. Thomas Aquinas Classic which kicks off on Saturday when they will face St. Thomas Aquinas College at 1:00 PM in Sparkill, New York. The Eagles are 0-2 all-time against the Spartans, falling in their last matchup last season in overtime in the Drubner Center, 83-74.