The American University men's basketball team lost to Columbia Sunday afternoon 64-62 in Bender Arena. A pair of Van Green free throws with 1.7 seconds remaining capped off a 14-point comeback for the Lions who held on after Troy Brewer's three-pointer as time expired was too strong.   

Stephen Lumpkins finished with a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Eagles. Lupmkins was 8-of-13 from the field and added three blocks. Brewer scored 18 points and was 4-of-8 from beyond the arc while Simon McCormack chipped in a season-high 13 points.

Columbia (3-3) stormed out to a 9-0 lead, shooting 4-of-6 to begin the game. The Eagles came back with six straight points of their own, and following a pair of Lumpkins free throws trailed by two, 12-10.  American (5-1) took its first lead moments later off a Lumpkins putback, 15-14, and went ahead by as many as six points, 22-16, to cap off an 18-4 stretch.

The Eagles took a 28-23 lead into the intermission shooting 43.5 percent (10-23) from the field and 50.0 percent (3-6) from three. 12 of Brewer's points came in that first half while Lumpkins tallied nine points and seven rebounds. After their hot start, the Lions struggled from the field and finished the first 20 minutes shooting just 29.2 percent (7-24).

Lumpkins scored each of American's first six points to open the second half as the Eagles extended their advantage to 34-25. A Brewer three-pointer gave American its first double-digit lead of the afternoon and a Tony Wroblicky basket on the team's next possession put the score at 39-26 with just over 14:00 to play. Back-to-back Columbia three's cut the Lions' deficit to 39-32 but a 7-0 stretch allowed the Eagles to take a 46-32 lead, their largest of the afternoon, with 10:21 remaining.

Columbia got back to within single-digits once more and trailed 54-49 with under four minutes remaining. McCormack ended the Lions' run with a pair of driving baskets but Columbia answered each time at the other end of the floor. Following a Brian Barbour three-pointer, American's lead stood at just 58-57 with 2:24 on the clock.

Dyami Starks' three with 48 seconds to play put Columbia on top 62-60 for the first time since midway through the first half. A pair of Daniel Munoz free throws evened the score at 62 before a foul at the other end of the court allowed Greene to step to the line and give Columbia its final margin.

"We made too many mistakes, physical and mental," Head Coach Jeff Jones stated. "There were a lot of good things that happened after the first 10 minutes and prior to the last six minutes, but all that goes to naught if you don't stick to the things that give you a chance. It's disappointing but we've got to bounce back and get back at it."

The Eagles finished the game shooting 49.0 percent (24-49) and connected on 5-of-10 three-pointers, but allowed Columbia to score 20 points off 15 turnovers. The Lions also scored 23 second-chance points, helping the team make up for a 21-of-60 performance from the field. Starks scored 20 points to lead Columbia with Barbour chipping in 12.

American will return to the court on Wednesday, December 1 when they face West Virginia in Morgantown, W.V. at 7:00 p.m. The game will be televised live on MASN in the Washington, D.C. area and on SportsNet New York in the New York City area.

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