WASHINGTON -- Yves Kabore scored a game-high 23 points, and American could not overcome a late scoring drought, as Wagner defeated the Eagles, 69-58, here on Saturday afternoon. It was the first of three straight games at home for American, which was coming off a 77-72 win over Florida State on Dec. 22.
Wagner (5-4), which won its second straight game for the first time this season, jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead, and extended it to 15-4 after just five minutes of play. Dedrick Dye paced the run with two three-pointers, while Kabore, who finished five-of-nine from three-point range, added one.
American (4-7) weathered the early deficit, and got back within one (17-16) with nine minutes to play in the first half. Using a 12-2 run capped by a Brian Williams dunk, American looked as if it had overcome early shooting trouble.
The Seahawks held firm though, and pushed the lead back as many as nine, before going into the half leading, 37-28. Kabore tossed in two three's during the late push, helping Wagner to six first-half three-point field goals.
With the lead hovering around seven for the better part of the second half, American finally made a run with 8:46 remaining in the game. An eight-point spurt cut the Seahawk advantage to two (55-53) with 5:17 to play, but it did not last, as American failed to score again until 28 seconds remaining. Wagner closed the game by going eight-of-eight from the line in the final minute.
Playing at home for the first time since Dec. 1, American, which never led in the game, turned the ball over 21 times and shot 43.8 percent from the field.
Dye added 13 points for the Seahawks, while Jermaine Hall had eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
American was led by Glenn Stokes, who finished with 13 points and seven steals. Patrick Doctor, coming off the bench for the second consecutive game, added nine, while Nick Boyd, Vladimir Buscaglia, Keith Gray and Steven Miles each netted eight.
American returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 2, when it hosts Liberty at 7:30 p.m. The Eagles then conclude their homestand by facing Fairfield on Jan. 5 in Bender Arena.
