EASTON, Pa. - Andre Ingram (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) scored a career-high 30 points to lead the American University men's basketball team past Lafayette by the final of 90-82. American finishes the regular season 16-12 overall and 10-4 in Patriot League play.
"I think we played as well today as we have in a long time," said American University head coach Jeff Jones. "We knew from our first game against Lafayette we could beat them, but we also knew we would have to play very well in order to do it."
The win is the fourth in a row for the Eagles, the longest winning streak of the season. It is also the second time this season AU has won both ends of a conference road trip, as well as the second time American has been able to do it since joining the Patriot League.
The Eagles trailed by a bucket (17-15) with 11:23 left in the first half when they scored 14 straight points. Lafayette did not score from 11:23 until the 4:31 mark. Six different Eagles scored during the 14-0 run with Ingram and Jason Thomas (Herndon, Va./Notre Dame Academy) each knocking down a three. The Leopards could get no closer than eight points the rest of the half and AU went into the locker room up a dozen points, 42-30. American shot 57 percent from the field in the first stanza and over 66 percent (eight-of-12) from behind the arc. Ingram was responsible for 14 points and four treys in the first 20 minutes.
The Leopards scored 10 of the first 13 points of the second half to close the deficit to five points (45-40). However, Andres Rodriguez (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Louisville) hit a three as did Ingram and AU eventually built the lead back up to a dozen points (59-47). The Leopards cut the lead to four twice in the last minute of the game, but the Eagles were solid from the free throw line, scoring their last 15 points from the line.
In addition to his scoring, Ingram added four rebounds and an assist. Rodriguez chipped in 15 points, 13 assists and three steals. Jernavis Draughn (Triangle, Va./Potomac Senior) scored 11 points on five-of-seven shooting and hauled down six rebounds. Raimondas Petrauskas (Mazeikiai, Lithuania/Lithuanian Physical Culture Academy) was nearly perfect tonight when it came to shooting. He had 16 points on four-of-five field goal attempts and converted all eight of his free throw attempts. He also chipped in six rebounds and two steals in 22 minutes.
Justin DeBerry and Winston Davis each scored 17 points to lead the Leopards. Marcus Harley chipped in 16 points.
AU will next play in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament beginning Saturday, March 6. Game times will be determined by the final regular season standings.
