March 8, 2009

Box Score 

WASHINGTON - The American University men's basketball team has advanced to the Patriot League Championship with a 61-60 win over Army on Sunday. Brian Gilmore hit a free-throw with 3.6 seconds remaining to put American on top for good, overcoming a five-point deficit with less than three minutes to play. Gilmore led all scorers with 19 points, 16 of which came in the second half.

American (23-7, 13-1) made just two of eight field goals to begin the game but forced six Army (11-19, 6-8) turnovers in the first eight minutes to hold Army's advantage to two, 7-5. AU took the lead twice on Garrison Carr three-pointers after the second media timeout but each time it was answered by an Army bucket. A Nick Hendra layup put American on top 13-12 with 7:59 to play and two Derrick Mercer free-throws pushed the score to 15-12.

AU went on top by four, 18-14, on a Carr trey and pushed its lead to six following a Bryce Simon Jumper, 20-14. Army fought back however and retied the score at 23 on a Josh Miller lay-in. Hendra's pull-up jumper on the ensuing possession moved the score to 25-23 but a Julian Simmons three put Army back on top, 26-25, with 2:18 remaining. Army finished the half on a 6-0 run and took a 34-27 lead into the break.

Army made 12-of-20 shots in the first half led by Cleveland Richards' 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Carr scored a team-high 11 points for the Eagles with three three-pointers.

The Black Knights scored the first four points of the second half to extend their lead to 11, 38-27, their largest of the afternoon. American answered back in the form of Gilmore as the senior scored 12-consecutive points put the Eagles back on top, 39-38, with 15:09 remaining. Gilmore hit two three's during the stretch and capped off American's run with a fast-break layup off a feed from Jordan Nichols.

Army retook the lead 40-39 on a Miller jumper but back-to-back baskets scored by Simon and Mercer put the Eagles back ahead, 43-40. Simon's first three of the day put AU on top by five, 49-44, with 11:00 left. The Black Knights responded with three straight buckets to once again take the lead, 50-49, and went on top by four points, 54-50 on a Kenny Brewer layup.

A three-point play converted by Carr made it a one-point game, 54-53, and two Nichols free-throws tied it at 55 with 3:39 remaining. Army moved the score to 57-55 with a Miller hoop and Richard gave the Black Knights a five-point lead, 60-55, with his third three of the game. The Eagles refused to be outdone though and evened the score at 60 with 42 seconds left in regulation. Nichols cut the Army lead to three, 60-57, on a jumper with 2:04 left and on Army's ensuing possession blocked a Miller shot which resulted in a Gilmore three in transition to tie the game.

Following a timeout, the Black Knights set up an isolation play for Miller. He was guarded closely by Mercer though and the Eagles point guard forced an errant shot then corralled the rebound. On the break Mercer found a streaking Gilmore who was fouled hard and sent to the line with 0:04 to play. Gilmore hit the second of two shots from the line to put American ahead by one, 61-60. Army made one final attempt at the hoop but its half-court attempt fell short, sealing the victory for American.

AU was led by Gilmore's 19 points, 16 of which were scored in the second half. Gilmore was 7-of-12 from the floor and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Carr scored 17 points with four three-pointers, four rebounds and three steals. Mercer tallied eight assists and three rebounds and Simon added nine points and three boards. Nichols grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and notched three assists and two blocks in 37 Nichols.

American will now face Holy Cross in the Patriot League Championship this Friday at 4:45 p.m on ESPN2. The Eagles and Crusaders split the season series in 2008-09 with each team winning on their home floor. Holy Cross was the only Patriot League team to defeat the Eagles this year, knocking off American 71-62 on January 24th at the Hart Center. The loss was the last one the Eagles sustained this season, thus far, having won their last 12 contests. American avenged the loss to Holy Cross back in Bender Arena on February 21st with a 56-50 win.

Tickets to the Patriot League Championship Game are on-sale now and are available only through AUEagles.com by clicking here. Tickets are priced at $16 for adults and $8 for youth. Students with a valied AU ID will be admitted free on a first-come, first-serve basis. More tickets will be made available throughout the week as they become available. Please visit AUEagles.com or call (202) 885-TIXX for more information.