Box Score

Jan. 5, 2009

WASHINGTON - The American University men's basketball team extended its current winning streak to three games on Monday with a 62-50 win over Columbia at Bender Arena. The Eagles shot 52.9 percent (9-17) from three-point range in their final non-conference game of the year. Garrison Carr scored a game-high 23 points and sank 7-of-9 from three.

American (8-6) began the night with five straight misses from the floor but quickly heated up after a Brian Gilmore dunk cut its deficit to 4-2 with just under 16 minutes to play. The Eagles tied the score up twice, once on a Frank Borden jumper and once on a Carr jumper, before Gilmore gave AU its first lead of the night, 9-8, on a three from the top of the key. Jason Miller gave Columbia (4-9) the lead back on its next possession with a jumper in the paint but a Carr three from NBA range put the Eagles right back on top, 12-10. AU finally took the lead for good, 14-12, on a Jordan Nichols layup.

Bryce Simon gave American its largest lead of the half, 19-14, on a three-pointer with 6:11 on the clock. An emphatic two-handed dunk by Frank Borden regained a five point lead for the Eagles, 21-16, but the Lions hung around and were able to cut the lead to two, 23-21, on a K.J. Matsui three. Carr answered Matsui's three with his second three of the half, putting AU back up by five, 26-21. With just under one minute remaining Miller scored a layup for the final points of the half, sending the team's into the break with American leading by three, 26-23.

After their 0-for-5 start from the floor, the Eagles rebounded to make 11 of their next 19 shots and went into the break shooting 45.8 percent (11-24) for the half.

AU quickly pulled away from Columbia after the half, taking a 10 point lead, 40-30, on the strength of a 14-7 run. Carr connected on two three-pointers during the stretch and American received a combined eight points from both Gilmore and Mercer. Joe Bova brought the lead back to single digits, 40-32, but the Lions would get no closer as American took off on a 15-4 run over the next six minute to take their largest lead of the game, 57-36. Carr again led the charge scoring nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from three. Columbia finished the game on a 12-6 run but the comeback effort was not enough as AU earned the win by the final score of 62-50.

Carr finished the night with a game-high 23 points, four rebounds and two assists. Carr began the night connecting on seven straight three's and finished the game shooting 7-of-9 from behind the arc. His fifth three of the night, which gave the Eagles a 15 point lead, 47-32, with 10:44 remaining , moved him into the Patriot League's all-time top-10 for career three-pointers.

Mercer added 12 points to the Eagles winning effort and recorded game-highs in both rebounds and assists, with seven in each category. Gilmore rounded out AU's double-digit scorers with 11 points, five rebounds and two assists.

American shot 46.9 percent (23-49) from the floor for the game and hit 52.9 percent (9-17) of its three's.

The Eagles will return to the court this Saturday, Jan. 10, in Bender Arena as they host Lehigh at 2 p.m. in the team's PL opener. AU is 6-1 all-time in PL home openers.