Vlad Moldoveanu scored 18 second-half points to lead the American University men's basketball team to a 69-64 win over Mount St. Mary's Monday in Emmitsburg, Md.

American (7-4) overcame a four-point halftime deficit for the victory, shooting 52.0 percent in the second half including a 5-of-8 performance from three. The win is the team's fifth road win of the year, surpassing its total of four from a year ago.

Moldoveanu led all scorers with 21 points, shooting 5-of-7 from beyond the arc and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. Stephen Lumpkins chipped in 16 points and six rebounds while Steve Luptak netted a season-high nine points.

"In the first half they wanted it more," Head Coach Jeff Jones commented. "In the second half we came out and were more aggressive and we wanted it more. The trick for us is to find a way to play that way for an entire 40 minutes."

The lead changed hands eight times through the first 11 minutes with neither side taking more than a four-point advantage. American scored six straight points for an 11-8 margin early but was forced to fight back from a 15-11 deficit after a 7-0 Mount run. Simon McCormack put the Eagles back on top 18-17 before Mount St. Mary's (3-9) regained a 23-20 lead on a Shawn Atupem basket.

Luptak's second three-pointer of the half evened the score at 23 and a Nick Hendra fastbreak layup made it a 25-all game. The Mount outscored American 6-2 down the stretch, however, taking a 31-27 lead into the intermission.

The Mount shot 50.0 percent in the first half and held a 26-17 advantage in the paint. The Eagles, meanwhile, shot just 36.7 percent and were led by Hendra, Luptak and Lumpkins who each scored six points.

American opened the second half on a 20-6 run to take a 47-37 lead. The stretch was sparked by the Eagles' defense, which held Mount St. Mary's to zero field goals through the first 10 minutes. Moldoveanu put the Eagles on top 34-33 with a three-pointer early in the run and later scored eight straight points, including two more three's, for the 10-point margin.

"We tell our guys if you bring energy on the defensive end the offense will come and that was true tonight," Jones added.

Mount St. Mary's cut its deficit to 60-57 with just over three minutes to play. Luptak's third three of the night gave American a six-point cushion, 63-57, but it would be short lived as a Raven Barber layup with 27 seconds remaining put the score at 65-62.  Moldoveanu sank four free throws in the final 13 seconds, giving American the 69-64 margin.

American will continue its current eight-game roadtrip when it travels to No. 6/6 Pittsburgh Wednesday, December 22 at 7:00 p.m.