TEANECK, N.J. - American University men's basketball took a 54-52 lead on a layup, and later a free throw by Raimondas Petrauskas (Mazeikiai, Lithuania/Lithuania Physical Culture Academy), but the Knights of Fairleigh Dickinson claimed the victory when Tamien Trent hit a three-pointer with five seconds left. Despite a late attempt by Andres Rodriguez (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Louisville), who took the ball down the floor and got off a final shot, FDU hung on for a 55-54 victory. AU is now 0-3, while FDU goes to 1-2.
American took a 25-22 lead into halftime thanks to Matej Cresnik (Velenje, Slovenia/Univerza V Ljubljani) and Patrick Okpwae (Yaounde, Cameroon/Berkshire School), each of whom had six points apiece in the first half. Cresnik entered the game very early after Petrauskas picked up his second foul less than three minutes into the game (17:20). A Cresnik layup gave AU a seven-point lead (14-7) at 10:42, and Okwpae followed with a layup to push AU to its biggest lead of the game, nine points. Okpwae scored six of his eight points in the first half. FDU cut the lead to one point late in the half, but Jason Thomas (Herndon, Va./Notre Dame Academy (Mass.) put back a missed Cresnik jumper with 46 seconds left, to give AU the three-point halftime lead (25-22).
Late in the second half FDU put together a run, and a Gordon Klaiber layup gave FDU a four-point lead (52-48), its biggest of the game, at 3:17. However, Jernavis Draughn (Triangle, Va./Potomac Senior) was fouled on a layup at 2:18 and he converted the free throw to cut the deficit to one, 52-51. Draughn then notched his second assist of the game, when he fed Petrauskas the ball for a layup with 1:04 left to give the Eagles a lead (53-52). Petrauskas added to the lead with a free throw with just 26 seconds left, however, FDU scored the gamewinner on its next possession.
The Eagles were led offensively by Draughn, who collected 12 points on five-of-eight shooting. Draughn played just 20 minutes due to foul trouble, but he also chipped in four rebounds and two assists. Rodriguez finished with just two points and one assist after picking up two quick first half fouls. In fact, Rodriguez played just 24 minutes, because of foul trouble. Petrauskas finished with nine points while Cresnik finished with seven points and five rebounds.
The Knights' were led by Klaiber, who finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Trent, who finished with 13 points, was the only other player in double figures for FDU. His 13 points was a career-high.
AU will next play on Tuesday, Dec. 2, when they travel to Radford University. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
