ALBANY, N.Y. - Second-half offensive struggles proved enough for a big first-half lead to be erased for American University men's basketball, and the Eagles (2-4) lost 68-64 at Albany (5-3) on Saturday morning. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The lead for AU was as many as 19 points with six minutes to go in the opening period. Albany's largest lead was the final margin of the game, and the Great Danes only led for a total of three minutes and 28 seconds.
• After shooting 47 percent from the field in the first half (16-of-34), the Eagles hit just 27.3 percent (9-of-33) in the second half. 
• Sophomore Jacob Boonyasith was AU's leading scorer with 14 points and he hit four three-pointers.
• Senior Sa'eed Nelson struggled offensively but finished with 13 points, seven assists and four steals.
• Graduate student Yilret Yiljep came in for big minutes off the bench, hitting 4-of-7 for eight points and also grabbing five boards. Junior Stacy Beckton Jr. was the Eagles' rebounding leader with seven, also dishing three assists and recording two steals.
• The Eagles never trailed in the first half but Albany kept it close until near the 11-minute mark and trailed just 18-14.
• Boonyasith hit his first bucket at 10:39 and went on to score eight points in a 10-0 AU run, including back-to-back three-pointers. The second of those put the Eagles up 28-14 with 8:24 to go in the half.
• By 6:23 of the half when Mark Gasperini converted a three-point play, it was a 22-5 run for the Eagles that had them leading by 19, 35-16. 
• Over the final stretch, Albany made up some ground. The Great Danes' final bucket of the period got them back within single digits and the lead for AU at halftime was just eight, 41-33.
• After some early three-pointers by Boonyasith and Jamir Harris for AU to start the second half, Albany caught fire with a 12-0 run and tied up the game at 47-47 just past the 15-minute mark.
• The Eagles were scoreless for nearly five minutes until a Josh Alexander layup at 13:44, but they picked up the pace a little later and pulled ahead by nine, 62-53 at 7:39.
• Albany turned it up down the stretch and scored 11 unanswered points for a 64-62 lead at 4:14. YY tied it up at 64-64 with 3:53 to go, but the Eagles were unable to put any more points on the board in the final minutes.

UP NEXT

• AU will return home in just a few days to host UMBC at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

BENDER ARENA TICKET INFO

• 2019-20 basketball season tickets are available now. Packages are priced as low as $50 and only $200 for the best chairback seats along the sideline for all home games in Bender Arena.
• Season ticket holders receive savings off the individual game price, guaranteeing fans the same great seats for all games in Bender Arena, and benefits that include the full exchange for games they cannot make – as well as discounts, and exclusive benefits throughout the year. All season ticket holders also receive their same seat for all home postseason league games and priority ticketing for all national postseason tournament games.
• AU students are admitted free of charge to home basketball games with a valid AU ID. To renew or purchase season tickets e-mail clawed@american.edu, call (202) 885-TIXX (8499), or for all individual ticket purchase needs visit AUEagles.com/Tickets.

For the latest on American University Men's Basketball, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_MBasketball), Facebook (AU.MBasketball) and Instagram (@au_mbasketball).