WEST POINT, N.Y. - Andre Ingram (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) and Matej Cresnik (Velenje, Slovenia/Univerza V Ljubljani) combined for 32 points to lead the American University men's basketball team to a six-point victory over Army, 54-48. American is now 15-12 on the year and 9-4 in Patriot League play.
The win guarantees American a winning season, the third in a row under head coach Jeff Jones. It is the first time AU has enjoyed three straight winning years since the 1988-1991 seasons.
American got off to a slow start, scoring just one bucket in the first seven minutes of the game. Army built leads as large as seven points and ended the half up six points, 22-16. Ingram had half of the Eagles' points with eigh. AU shot just 22.7 percent (5-22) from the field and was 0-10 from behind the arc in the first stanza.
In the second half the Eagles turned up the defensive pressure and did not allow Army a field goal until the 13:52 minute mark. AU started the half with a 9-2 run to take their first lead of the game at 25-24 and they did not trail the rest of the way. Jernavis Draughn (Triangle, Va./Potomac Senior) started things off with a layup and Cresnik followed with a three-pointer. Draughn hit another layup and Ingram knocked down two free throws to put AU ahead.
A Cresnik three gave American a 45-39 lead with 2:57 left in the game. It was AU's last field goal of the night, but they hit nine free throws (nine-of-11) to ice the game.
Ingram finished with 17 points on four-of-nine shooting, including eight-of-eight from the charity stripe. He led everyone in rebounding with seven and chipped in two steals and one assist in 35 minutes. Cresnik was three-of-four behind the arc, scored 15 points and hauled down five rebounds. Andres Rodriguez (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Louisville) had six points and six rebounds and a game-high seven assists.
American shot just 32.6 percent from the floor and 20 percent from behind the three-point line, but shot an outstanding 88 percent from the free throw line (22-of-25). They outrebounded Army by 16 boards, 40-24.
Sean O'Keefe led Army with 15 points and was five-of-nine from behind the arc. Josh Wilson had 14 points.
AU will next play at Lafayette on Saturday, Feb. 28. Game time is 3:15 p.m.
