LORETTO, PA -- Demek Adams came off the bench to score nine points, including two late free throws, as American University beat St. Francis, Pa. 55-52 Tuesday night.
American (1-1) led 32-24 at halftime and stretched it 45-30 with 12:12 left in the game before St. Francis began chipping away at the margin.
Led by Reiner Mougnol, with 19 points and 8 rebounds, and Dan Swoger, who had 15 points and 5 assists, St. Francis (0-2) cut the lead to 53-47. Rahsaan Benton's 3-pointer, the only one of eight he made, cut the lead to 53-50 before Swoger hit two free throws to make it 53-52 with 32 seconds left.
St. Francis was forced to foul Adams to regain possession, and he hit both ends of a one-and-one for the final margin. Benton and Swoger missed 3-point attempts in the game's final seconds.
Vladimir Buscaglia led American with 11 points off the bench. Starting center Patrick Doctor had 10 points, the only other player to score in double figures for American.
