Feb. 7, 2009
Box Score
Bethlehem, Pa. - The American University men's
basketball team defeated Lehigh Saturday evening at Stabler Arena,
66-58, to remain tied atop the Patriot League Standings. AU
withstood a late second half push by the Mountain Hawks and sealed
the victory by hitting 8-of-10 free throws in the final minute. Derrick
Mercer scored a team-high 15 points and dished out seven
assists while Nick Hendra scored
nine and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.
American (15-7, 7-1) went ahead early in the first half, making
six of its first 13 shots to take a four point lead. Mercer pulled
up from three to give AU an 11-9 advantage and Brian Gilmore hit a
short jumper to move the score to 13-9. Hendra put the Eagles on
top by seven with a three-pointer but his bucket was matched by a
three from Prentice Small to close the gap to 16-12 with 9:10
remaining in the half.
Mercer scored seven of the team's next nine points as the Eagles
attempted to extend their lead. Mercer however was matched by Rob
Keefer who scored Lehigh's (13-9, 3-5) final eight points of the
half to keep AU's lead within reach. Lehigh held the ball for the
final shot of the half but could not put it in the hole and
American took a 28-24 lead into the break.
Mercer led the team at the half with 10 points and four assists.
Both Hendra and Frank Borden had six
points at the intermission. AU shot 46.2 percent (12-26) in the
first half and scored 11 points off seven offensive rebounds. The
Eagles defense meanwhile limited Lehigh to just 34.8 percent (8-23)
shooting.
American extended its lead to eight points, 35-27, after the
half on a Stephen Lumpkins
three-point play but a 5-0 run brought Lehigh back to within three,
35-32, with 16:05 to play. AU took its largest lead of the game
minutes later using an 8-1 run to go on top by 10, 47-37. Mercer
sank his third three of the game to put the Eagles on top 44-36 and
Bryce Simon
gave the Eagles a 10 point cushion on a three of his own with 10:24
remaining.
Lehigh held the Eagles scoreless over the next five-plus minutes
and narrowed the lead to three, 47-44. Garrison Carr sank
a three with the shot clock winding down to put AU back ahead by
six but two free-throws from Zahir Carrington moved the score to
51-47. Carrington pulled down an offensive rebound and hit the put
back moments later to bring Lehigh to within two, 51-49.
Simon hit his second three of the half on AU's next possession
to push the lead back to five, 54-49, with just under three minutes
on the clock. A Carrington bucket with 1:13 to play moved the score
to 56-53. Mercer put AU back ahead by five, 58-53, with a floater
in the lane and a charge drawn by Jordan Nichols on
Lehigh's next possession gave American a chance to salt the game
away. The Eagles combined to go 8-of-10 from the free-throw line in
the final minute as AU held on for the 66-58 victory.
The Eagles finished the game shooting 44.2 percent (23-52) from
the floor and hitting 13-of-17 free throws. AU outrebounded Lehigh
by a margin of 36-30 and held the Mountain Hawks to just 38.5
percent (20-52) shooting.
With the win American remains in a tie for first place in the PL
with Holy Cross who won at Lafayette earlier in the day, 64-50. AU
is now 7-1 in the PL, matching the program's best start in
conference since the 1981-82 team began 7-1 in the East Coast
Conference. The Eagles have won four straight games and 10 of their
last 11.
Mercer scored a team-high 15 points and dished out seven
assists, marking his fourth game of 10-plus points and five-plus
assists in the team's last five. Carr scored 14 points, five
rebounds and four assists and sank 5-of-6 free throws in the final
minute. Hendra, making his first career start, added nine points
and career-high nine rebounds and two assists.
American will be back in action again this Wednesday, Feb. 11,
as the team continues its two game road swing at Bucknell. Tipoff
from Lewisburg, Pa., is scheduled for 7 p.m.
