WASHINGTON - A three-point attempt at the final buzzer by American University's Andres Rodriguez (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Louisville) hit the back rim and bounced out in a 75-72 loss to Niagara University Monday at Bender Arena.

With AU clinging to a 69-67 lead with just less than a minute remaining, Niagara's David Brooks hit a three-pointer -- his only points of the game -- on a fast break to grab a one-point lead. American had two tries to regain the lead, but Andre Ingram's (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) runner in the lane missed its mark, and Raimondas Petrauskas' (Mazeikiai, Lithuania/Lithuanian Physical Culture Acad.) layup attempt off the offensive board also missed.

Niagara's Juan Mendez ripped down the rebound, was fouled, and hit the two ensuing free throws to push the Purple Eagles ahead, 72-69. After Rodriguez made a fast break layup to pull the Eagles within one again, Mendez hit another two free throws to grab another three-point lead. Mendez finished 15-of-15 from the charity stripe.
NU then fouled Linas Lekavicius (Silale, Lithuania/The Miller School [Va.]), who hit the front end to make the score 74-72. American fouled NU's Tremmell Darden, who hit one-of-two free throws, to lead to Rodriguez's last-second attempt.

American started the game off with a 7-0 run and held leads as large as 15 points in the first stanza. Ingram fueled the Eagles first-half outburst, hitting five-of-six three-pointers, including three consecutive at one point, in the first stanza. Ingram finished with a game-high 21 points.

After American's Matej Cresnik (Velenje, Slovenia/Univerza V Ljubljani) hit a three-pointer to extend the lead to 13, Niagara began chipping away at the lead. A 16-6 NU run put them within three points at the 11:41 mark. AU and Niagara traded baskets, until Darden hit a three-pointer on a fast break to give NU its first lead of the game with just less than nine minutes left.

Mendez and Darden led the Purple Eagles, who move to 8-3 on the season, with 17 points apiece. James Reaves added 13 points and 10 boards for the visitors.
Rodriguez chipped in 12 points and nine assists for AU, while Petrauskas and Cresnik scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Eagles fall to 6-8 on the season. AU opens up its Patriot League docket on Saturday, Jan. 10, when they host Bucknell University at 1 p.m.