Vlad Moldoveanu scored a career-high 39 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the American University men's basketball team to an 82-75 win over Lehigh Saturday at Bender Arena.

Moldoveanu's 39 points rank as the seventh most in program history. It also marks his fifth career 30-point performance and fourth career double-double. Moldoveanu scored 29 of his points in the second half and finished the day shooting 13-of-18 from the field, 3-of-4 from three and 10-of-10 at the line.

"If this is what the League season is going to be like I think we are all going to be in for a lot of excitement," Head Coach Jeff Jones commented. "What you saw was a progression from Vlad. In the first half he was anxious and wanted to score early. We just kept telling him to relax and be the distributor. In the second half he got some things going and he became more active."

Stephen Lumpkins chipped in 16 points and nine rebounds for American (11-5, 1-0), which snapped a three-game losing streak to the Mountain Hawks. Nick Hendra, meanwhile, registered eight points and 10 rebounds as American held a 44-24 rebounding advantage over Lehigh (9-7, 0-1) and outscored the defending Patriot League Champions 34-26 in the paint.

C.J. McCollum led Lehigh with 32 points on 10-of-22 shooting while both Mackey McKnight and Holden Greiner scored 11. The Eagles outshot the Mountain Hawks 49.1 percent to 42.6 percent for the game, and made 16-of-25 attempts in the second half.

American and Lehigh traded the lead six times in the first half were tied another six times. Lehigh was first to get on the scoreboard and later used a 7-1 run to open a 9-6 advantage. Back-to-back dunks by Lumpkins put the Eagles back out in front 13-11 and a Moldoveanu jumper made the score 15-14.

Lehigh regained the lead with a Holden Greiner three-pointer but was matched shot for shot by the Eagles down the stretch. The Mountain Hawk would take a 30-27 advantage into the break, however, after Anthony D'Orazio's jumper beat the buzzer.

Moldoveanu led all scorers in the frame with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Lumpkins added eight points and seven rebounds, helping American to a 23-15 edge on the glass. American also held an 11-5 advantage in second-chance points, helping the team overcome a 1-of-7 performance from three.

Lehigh took a 35-29 lead moments into the second half but an 8-2 American run evened the score at 37. Moldoveanu began the stretch with his first three-pointer of the game and added an and-one on the team's next trip down the court. Troy Brewer came away with a steal on Lehigh's ensuing possession and finished it himself at the other end to tie the game.

Trailing 47-44, American embarked on a 21-11 run with Moldoveanu scoring 19 points during the 4:24 stretch. He scored all eight points during an 8-2 spurt, giving the Eagles the initial 52-49 edge. Moldoveanu would then go on to score 11 straight during an 11-4 stretch for the Eagles, giving American a 65-55 lead, its largest of the day.

Greiner's second three brought Lehigh to within two, 67-65, and the Eagles responded with a Lumpkins basket and Charles Hinkle three-pointer to push the score to 72-65. The Mountain Hawks would not lay down, however, and made the score 76-73 on yet another Greiner three.

Hinkle's putback with under one minute to play put the score at 78-73 and a Moldoveanu jumper all but sealed the deal. The senior would add two free throws in the closing seconds, securing the 82-75 victory.

American will return to Cassell Court on Wednesday, January 12 when it hosts Bucknell at 7:30 p.m. in Bender Arena. Tickets to the game are still available and can be purchased online by clicking here.

Fans unable to attend the game can catch all of the action live online via a subscription to Patriot League All*Access. For more information, click here.

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