AIC Pushes Brown as Liberty Comes Down to Wire

10.14.2025College Men

It was a tough, physical contest between AIC and Brown on Saturday. Photo Leon Nguyen.

Brown University has encountered its two toughest games this last couple of weeks.

After just getting by Dartmouth, the Bears had some work to do to hold off AIC 31-22.

Brown remains undefeated, but it’s been a grand departure from the usual lopsided wins.

“We needed two challenging games to see how we responded,” said Brown Head Coach David LaFlamme, referring to the AIC match and Dartmouth before that. “Both provided needed wake up calls at certain times during the game. In the end, getting the win is what we needed although in both games we missed opportunities either by recognition or poor execution. We really need to fix these areas as we move into postseason play.”

AIC actually led against Brown with about seven minutes to go before the Ivy Leaguers scored twice late.

“We fought for each other, side-by-side,” said AIC DOR Jameson Bonti. “There’s a tremendous amount of belief in our family, even if others outside of AIC don’t see it.”

Rocco Burdett was tough carrying the ball in the centers and also on defense. Tyler Biado was a force in the lineouts and that caused Brown plenty of trouble. Axel Strasser brought a big impact off the bench.

For the YellowJackets this was another message to everyone else that they will be a tough customer come playoff time. AIC now sits at 4-2 in conference play, and face a question as to whether that’s enough for the NCR playoffs. Will they earn a spot in a play-in, given that the ARC is reported to have five of their six teams in the postseason? No one is entirely clear on how that will pan out. With Notre Dame and Indiana playing well in the Big 10, and two strong teams likely to come out of the Big Rivers, there’s competition for that final eight.

And that's not even counting the fact that Fairfield is right there at 4-1, albeit with Dartmouth and AIC still to play.

“Anything outside our Family is a distraction,” sid Bonti. “That’s our focus, what we can control. Brown finished on top on Saturday, and full credit to them. We’re already on to the next job.”

Lessons learned for both, then.

“Dartmouth showed us that there are teams out there that can match us up front. AIC was a team that takes advantage of the times you give them an inch,” said LaFlamme. “They are also a team that won't back down when it comes to the physical aspect of the game. Both Fordham and Syracuse need wins if they want a shot at any playoff spot so we'll have to be prepared for each of them.”

AIC, Brown, Liberty, Liberty Conference, NCR D1

Photo Galleries