The American University men's basketball team fell to Bucknell Wednesday night in Bender Arena, 75-60, ending the Eagles four-game win streak.

Bucknell's Mike Muscala led all scorers with a career high 33 points and 10 rebounds as three Bison finished in double figures. Juniors Troy Brewer and Charles Hinkle powered a balanced American offense and finished with 12 points each while Nick Hendra added 10. The Eagles are now 1-1 in the Patriot League and 11-6 overall.

"I'm hard pressed to remember a time here in Bender Arena when we were handled this way," Head Coach Jeff Jones said after the game. "Hats off to Bucknell, they did a great job tonight."

After exchanging baskets to open the game, Bucknell began pulling away early with four consecutive jumpers by Joe Willman. Following a five-minute American scoring drought, Brewer hit a pullback jumper to cut the Bison lead to 12-6 with 12:52 remaining.

 Bucknell (11-7) responded quickly with a 12-2 run, including a pair of threes by G.W. Boon. Hinkle then drained two three-pointers of his own and Simon McCormack finished a nice layup to pull to within 26-16 with 6:36 left in the half. Despite five points by Vlad Moldoveanu in the half's remaining minutes, sharp shooting by Bucknell's Bryson Johnson gave the Bison a 37-25 lead entering the break.

Muscala led all scorers at the half with nine points, while Johnson and Willman notched eight apiece. Moldoveanu finished the first 20 minutes with seven points as American shot just 37 percent from the field.

Bucknell opened the second half with a 6-0 run before a Hendra reverse layup kept the Bison lead to 15. Hendra converted a three-point play minutes later to pull American within 11 at the 12 minute mark.

With 10:15 remaining Muscala converted a dunk and went on to score 10 points over the next three minutes. Brewer hit a three and McCormack tallied a pair of layups, but back-to-back Muscala threes with less than four minutes remaining ended any chance of an American comeback. 

"When you have a night like this, you find out an awful lot about yourselves and about your character," Jones said. "We need to shake this one off and get back at it."

American will look to rebound at Colgate this Saturday, January 15 at 2:00 p.m before returning home to Cassell Court to play Army on January 19 at 7:30 p.m.

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