The American University men's basketball team fought back from a 14 point first-half deficit but could not hold on down the stretch, as Bucknell earned a 66-60 victory over the Eagles Wednesday night in Lewisburg, Pa.

The win gives Bucknell a two-game advantage over American in the Patriot League standings. The Bison are now 17-8 overall and 8-1 in the conference while the Eagles fall to 16-8 overall and 6-3 in League play. American in one game in front of Lafayette who improved to 5-4 in the conference with an 80-65 win at Colgate.

Troy Brewer led the Eagles in scoring for a second straight game, netting 13 points with seven rebounds and four assists. Stephen Lumpkins and Daniel Munoz each added 11 points.

Mike Muscala scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Bison to the victory. G.W. Boon chipped in 12 points and Bryson Johnson 11. Both teams struggled from the field as American shot just 38.3 percent and Bucknell 40.0 percent, despite the Eagles and Bison combing for 17 three-point field goals on the night.

American got off to a slow start at the offensive end and converted only one of its first nine attempts. Bucknell, meanwhile, shot 5-of-10 to take an 11-2 lead including eight straight points from Muscala to begin the game. Brewer ended the Eagles' drought with a three-pointer and pair of free throws as he scored seven of the team's first eight points. The Bison's hot hand would continue, however, as Darryl Shazier and Boon hit back-to-back three's to give Bucknell a 22-8 advantage 10 minutes in.

The Eagles turned it around after Boon's three-pointer and used a 15-4 run to pull back to within 26-23. Brewer's second three-ball of the night cut Bucknell's lead to 24-15 and following back-to-back trifectas from Munoz and Charles Hinkle, American trailed by only three.

Bucknell responded to American's run with an 11-5 stretch to close out the half and took a 36-28 lead into the locker room. Brewer led the Eagles with 10 points through the first 20 minutes, shooting 2-of-2 from deep and also dishing out two assists. Both Boon and Muscala scored 10 points in the first half for the Bison and helped Bucknell to an 18-8 advantage on the glass and a 12-6 margin in points in the paint.

Both teams got off to a quick start in the second half but three straight points from Brewer allowed the Eagles to pull to within five, 44-39. American later used an 8-0 run to even the game at 50, marking the first time the teams had been tied since the score was 2-2. Vlad Moldoveanu began the stretch and was followed by three-pointers from Nick Hendra and Munoz. 

After falling behind 57-54, Moldoveanu went to the line on consecutive possessions and hit four straight free throws to give the Eagles their first lead since the opening moments of the game, 58-57. Bucknell went on to score the next five points, however, regaining a 62-58 margin with under three minutes to play. The Bison would then hit 4-of-8 free throws in the final 38 seconds to hold on for the victory, 66-60.

American will return to action Saturday, February 12 when it hosts Colgate at 3:00 p.m. in the first annual 'Bender White Out.' The first 1,250 students and first 500 ticket holders to enter Bender Arena Saturday will receive a free white out t-shirt and all fans are encouraged to wear white as American Athletics attempts to white out Bender for the first time ever.

Fans are also invited to attend the Athletics Auction which will take place on the mezzanine level of Bender Arena beginning at 1:30 p.m. For more information on the event or to bid on items available online now, click here.

Tickets to Saturday's game still available and can be purchased online by clicking here.