Feb. 21, 2009

Box Score
John Feinstein Article on Bryce Simon
Washington Post Recap by Steven Goff

WASHINGTON - The American University men's basketball team defeated Holy Cross on Saturday, 56-50, to move two games ahead of the Crusaders in the Patriot League Standings. AU improved to 11-1 in conference with the win while Holy Cross fell to 9-3. Garrison Carr scored a game-high 28 points and made six three-pointers to lead American while Derrick Mercer added 11. The Eagles have now won eight-consecutive games and 14 of their last 15.

Both American (19-7, 11-1) and Holy Cross (14-13, 9-3) struggled through the opening minutes of play and with less than nine minutes remaining the Crusaders held just a 6-2 lead. Carr's first three of the game pulled AU to within one, 6-5, and jump started an 8-2 run which put American on top, 10-8. Holy Cross briefly tied the game at 10 but the Eagles quickly retook the lead with a 7-0 run. Carr again started the stretch with another three and four straight points scored by Mercer pushed AU's lead to 17-10.

The Crusaders answered American's run with an 8-2 run of their own to close out the half, sending the team's into the locker room at the break with AU leading by one, 19-18.

Carr and Mercer each scored six points in the first half while Mercer led the team with five rebounds. The Eagles shot just 25.0 percent (6-24) from the floor in the frame but held Holy Cross to 33.3 percent (9-27) shooting and forced nine Crusader turnovers.

AU opened the second half on an 11-0 run to take a 32-20 lead with 16:12 to play. Mercer scored the first bucket of the frame and was followed by three-consecutive three-pointers from Carr as American opened up a 12 point lead. An Andrew Beinert three cut AU's lead to 32-23 before the Eagles took their biggest lead of the game, 36-23, off of two Stephen Lumpkins baskets with 13:37 remaining.

Holy Cross answered American's run with a 12-4 run of its own to get back to within five on the scoreboard, 40-35. Beinert scored nine of the Crusaders 12 points during the stretch, connecting on three three-pointers. The Eagles quickly moved their lead back to double-digits though, 47-35, as Carr scored six straight points.

The Crusaders challenged American's lead once more before the stretch run, cutting AU's lead to as little as three points, 49-46. Holy Cross scored six unanswered points to bring the score to 47-41 with 5:23 on the clock and then scored five more unanswered points to bring the score to within three with just 2:33 to play. American ended the 11-2 Holy Cross run as Jordan Nichols forced a turnover and then through the ball down court while falling out of bounds to Mercer for an easy lay-in. Carr sank 5-of-6 free-throws in the final minute to ice the game and give American the 56-50 win.

Carr scored a game-high 28 points to lead the Eagles on 8-of-15 shooting and was 6-of-9 from three. The senior has now made 273 career treys and has moved into fourth place all-time in the PL. Carr also sank 6-of-7 free-throws, pulled down two rebounds and was credited with three steals. Mercer added 11 points, five rebounds and two assists. Brian Gilmor scored nine for the Eagles and recorded a team-high seven rebounds and three assists.

The Eagles now hold a two-game lead over Holy Cross in the PL standings as they improve to 11-1 with the win and the Crusaders fall to 9-3. American has won eight-consecutive games and 14 of its last 15. AU also improved its home winning streak against the PL to 13 games with the win and has won 15 of its last 16 home games overall.

American will return to action this Wednesday, Feb. 25, at home against Navy and with a win will clinch its second straight PL Regular Season Championship. The game will be broadcast live to a national television audience on CBS College Sports. Tickets to the game are still available and can be purchased online by clicking here or over the phone by calling (202) 885-TIXX.