WASHINGTON -- Ajou Deng's last-second three-point attempt fell off the front iron, helping American hold on to a 68-67 win over Fairfield on Saturday in Bender Arena. The win was the second-straight for the Eagles, who are now just one game below .500 for the season.
American (6-7) came out of the gate quickly, and led, 8-0, after just two minutes of play. The Eagles kept the pressure up for most of the first half, and built a 16-point margin (35-19) with 5:44 to play in the first period. Vladimir Buscaglia and Andres Rodriguez were the catalysts for American, scoring all their points in the first half. Buscaglia had 14, while Rodriguez had a career-high 12.
Three-point shooting was the key to American's first-half, as it went seven-of-13 (53.8 percent) from beyond the arc, while Fairfield connected on just one of its seven attempts.
The Eagle led remained in double digits for the better portion of the second half. Fairfield (2-7) finally woke up with about five minutes to play in the game. The Stags started a run that would bring them to the brink of tying the game.
Trailing by 10 with 4:55 to play, Fairfield used an old-fashioned three-point play by Sam Spann and a tip-in by Deng Gai to get the lead down to five. American, which had similar problems in a 69-58 loss to Wagner last Saturday, looked as if it had rebounded. A layup by Patrick Doctor, and then two free throws by the senior, pushed the Eagle advantage back to nine with 3:13 left.
Fairfield would go on to score nine of the final 10 points. Jeremy Logan scored four points and two free throws by Deng brought the Stags within four (68-64). After a Fairfield timeout, a Spann layin sliced it to 68-66 with 19 seconds left. American threw a long inbounds down the floor to Doctor, but Spann stole the pass and was fouled. Spann hit one-of-two free throws to get Fairfield within one (68-67).
One the next inbounds play, American had more trouble. Steven Miles received the ball in corner, and was tied up. Fairfield gained the alternating possession, and had one last crack until Deng's three fell short, and American's Keith Gray cleaned up the rebound.
Doctor led American with 17 points and added a team-high five rebounds, while Miles finished with 12. Logan paced all scorers with 18 points, while adding five rebounds.
American returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 5, when it hosts Fairfield at 2:00 p.m. The Eagles then travel to Hamilton, NY, on Wednesday, Jan. 9, for its inaugural Patriot League game against Colgate at 7:45 p.m.
