Columbia, Mo. - Senior captain Steven Miles (Alexandria, Va./Coastal Carolina) knocked down a jumper with 1:31 remaing to bring the American University's men's basketball team to within seven points, 63-56, but that was as close as the Eagles would get against the No. 20 ranked University of Missouri. The Tigers hit their free throws down the stretch and won by 15 points, 72-57.

Missouri got off to a fast start, and in fact, led the Eagles by 19 points with four minutes left in the first half, 33-14. The Tigers first half lead was helped in large part by a six-minute AU scoring drought (111:22 - 5:25). However, a Ric Patiejunas (Vilnius, Lithuania/University of Ljubljani) three followed by a Glenn Stokes (Silver Spring, Md./Tallahassee CC (Fla.) steal and subsequent three-pointer helped AU get back into the game.

American shot just 27.6 percent from the field in the opening period, while turning the ball over 12 times. On the boards AU was outrebounded by 11 (26-15).

The Eagles trailed by 14 at the half (36-22) and eventually by 17 points early in the second half. American clawed its' way back into the game and the run was fueled by junior Jernavis Draughn (Triangle, Va./Potomac Senior), who did not score in the first half, but was five-for-six in the second half and collected nine reounds on the evening. Miles contributed nine of his 12 points in the second half.

One Eagle who made an impressive debut against Missouri was sophomore Raimondas Petrauskas, who was three-of-five from the field for six points, garnered five rebounds and provided some outstanding interior defense. Patiejunas, who played in just nine games last year, was outstanding off the bench for the Eagles. He played only 19 minutes, but was three-0f-six from three-point land, scored 12 points, grabbed four rebounds and played some outstanding defense.

American (0-1) will next play at UNC-Greensboro on November 25, 2002.