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The American University men's basketball team defeated Army on Wednesday night, 57-54, after surviving a second half charge by the Black Knights in Bender Arena. Four Eagles scored in double-digits to power the team to victory led by an 18-point performance from Vlad Moldoveanu and an 11 point, 11 rebound effort from Stephen Lumpkins.

Neither team was able to find its rhythm early in the game and with 15:10 to play the Eagles led by a score of 4-3. American (8-18, 5-6) went on to hit eight of its next nine shots, however, and took a 25-8 lead with 8:00 remaining. Joe Hill began the 19-7 stretch with a three-pointer and was followed by three straight baskets from Moldoveanu. Nick Hendra capped the run off three-minutes later with back-to-back three's.

Army (13-12, 3-8) pulled to within 13 points, 25-12, on a Josh Miller layup but a Simon McCormack fast break lay-in pushed the score to 28-12. The Black Knights would score the final bucket of the half on a Jeremy Hence three, sending the Eagles into the locker room leading 31-19.

Moldoveanu tallied 12 points in the first half on 5-of-9 shooting and was 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Hendra and Hill each added six points with a pair of three's while McCormack notched four points and four assists. American shot 48.0 percent from the field in the frame while going 6-of-10 from three. By contrast, Army shot just 38.1 percent and was dominated on the boards as the Eagles came away with an 18-8 advantage.

Army came out of the intermission on a 13-4 run and with 14:52 remaining had cut its deficit to three, 35-32. American responded with a Lumpkins dunk on its next possession and after a Moldoveanu three led by a score of 41-32. A 9-2 Black Knight stretch made it a two-point game, 43-41, but a Hill three with 9:07 to play ended the spurt and pushed the score to 46-41.

Marcus Nelson brought Army to within two, 46-44, with a three-point play and a Hence jumper with 4:02 on the clock tied the game at 48. American answered back with a 5-0 run though which included a Moldoveanu three and a pair of free throws from Hendra to reopen a five-point advantage, 53-48, with 1:23 remaining. Another pair of freebies from Hendra with five seconds to play gave the Eagles the final margin of 57-54.

Moldoveanu finished the night with a game-high 18 points, connecting on 7-of-12 attempts from the field and 4-of-6 from three. Lumpkins recorded his fifth double-double of the year and second in as many games with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting and a game-high 11 rebounds. Hill matched his career-high of 12 points on four three-pointers and Hendra added 10.

American shot 45.5 percent from the field for the game against 41.2 percent shooting from Army. The Eagles also matched their season-high with 10 three-pointers and held a 35-21 advantage on the glass. Tyrell Thompson led Army with 13 points and five rebounds while Hence and Cleveland Richard each added 11 points.

The Eagles will return to the court on Sunday, February 21, at Holy Cross. Tipoff from Worcester, Mass., is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Fans unable to attend Sunday's game can catch all of the action live on Patriot League All*Access by clicking here.