WASHINGTON - American University men's basketball team shot 58 percent for the game and outscored the U.S. Naval Academy 36-16 in the paint in a 71-49 victory Tuesday night in Bender Arena.

The Eagles started the game off slowly, missing seven of their first 10 shots, and Navy held a 10-8 lead at the 13:51 mark of the first half. However, an alley-oop dunk off an inbound play by Raimondas Petrauskas (Mazeikiai, Lithuania/Lithuanian Physical Culture Academy) electrified American, and AU went on a 18-3 run over the next six minutes to grab a 26-13 lead. American headed to the lockerroom with a 35-24 advantage.

Navy threatened in the second stanza, when a three-pointer by Jason Fernandez pulled the Midshipmen to within seven points with 8:49 remaining. AU again responded, going on an 8-0 run that included two jumpers by Andre Ingram (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) and was capped off by a three-pointer by Jason Thomas (Herndon, Va./Notre Dame Academy [Mass.]). Ingram scored a game-high 15 points, on six-of-10 shooting, while Thomas added 14 points, including a three-for-three showing from behind the arc. Andres Rodriguez (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Louisville) added 10 points, 11 assists and four steals.

Navy, which drops to 3-19 overall and 0-9 in the Patriot League, was led by Chika Onyekanne, who had 12 points.

American improves to 12-11, 6-3 in the Patriot League. The Eagles return to action this Friday, Feb. 13, when they travel to Bethlehem, Pa., for a 8 p.m. start against Lehigh University.