EMMITSBURG, Pa. - Led by Sa'eed Nelson's 19 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and four steals, the American University men's basketball team held off Mount St. Mary's (3-8) for an 82-76 road win on Tuesday night at Knott Arena. The Eagles (4-5) had a 20-point lead after a massive first-half run, and never trailed in the contest.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Four players reached double figures in scoring for AU, led by Nelson's 19 points. He hit 7-of-8 free throws including 5-of-6 in the final 40 seconds.
• Nelson is the first to lead the Eagles in points, rebounds and assists since the last time he did so himself, on Feb. 20, 2019.
• Jamir Harris was a perfect 8-of-8 at the stripe and finished with 17 points and five rebounds.
• Getting double digits for the seventh time in nine games was Jacob Boonyasith who finished with 16 points.
• Freshman Ben Lubarsky hit all three of his attempts from the field along with 3-of-3 at the line and scored a career-high 10 points.
• The Eagles out-rebounded the Mount 36-28 and had their second-best showing at the free throw line this season, hitting 24 of 30 (80 percent).

FIRST HALF

• After a slow start for both teams that saw the game tied at 6-6, the Eagles got going on a Jamir Harris three-pointer near the 15-minute mark and then exploded for 16 straight points.
• Boonyasith followed Harris with back-to-back long range buckets and Ben Lubarsky also hit a three in what became a 23-3 spurt for the Eagles.
• The run was capped with a four-point play by Marvin Bragg who was fouled on a made trey and made the free throw for a 29-9 lead at 9:40.
• Momentum swung in the other direction for the next five minutes as The Mount used a 12-0 run to cut the AU lead to eight.
• Bragg made it six straight points for AU, ending the dry spell with a layup at 4:33.
• Mount St. Mary's came within six points just under the two-minute mark, but Lubarsky and Josh Alexander closed out the half with buckets for AU to give the Eagles a double-digit lead at the break, 35-25.

SECOND HALF

• The second half got off to a strong start with Mark Gasperini crashing the offensive glass a couple times and giving AU a 43-29 lead.
• The Eagles went up by as many as 18 points (51-33) on two Harris free throws at 14:41, but it would prove to be AU's largest lead the rest of the way.
• The three-pointers started falling for the Mount, and a 12-0 Mount St. Mary's run made it a six-point game with 11:10 to go.
• Foul trouble for AU was costly for much of the game, and the Mount went 12-of-14 at the line in the second half. Free throws by Mount St. Mary's made it a one-point game with 6:32 remaining, 61-60, but AU never relinquished its lead.
• With a 68-62 lead, a foul called on Gasperini was reversed after review. He instead hit a pair of free throws, sparking a 5-0 run that included a Harris three-pointer.
• The Mount came back within five in the final minute, but AU held them off with its free-throw shooting. Lubarsky hit a pair and Nelson's 5-of-6 kept Mount St. Mary's at bay.

UP NEXT

• American will be back at home vs. Stony Brook on Dec. 21, in a 2 p.m. game that will be broadcast both on NBC Sports Washington and the Patriot League Network.

MEN'S BASKETBALL HOLIDAY 3-PACK TICKET MINI-PLAN AVAILABLE THROUGH DEC. 31

• Treat yourself or give the gift of AU Hoops this December by purchasing the AU Men's Basketball's Holiday 3-Pack Ticket Mini-Plan!  For just $50 you get a sideline ticket to 3 great match-ups of your choice from all remaining home games. Shopping for Eagle fans on your holiday list has never been easier.  Purchase this special holiday season limited time offer at AUeagles.com/Tickets today!

INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKET INFO

• Great seats remain for the Dec. 21 home game vs. Stony Brook, as well as all nine home Patriot League games beginning with Jan. 5 vs. Boston University in Bender Arena.  Secure your seats today by visiting AUeagles.com/Tickets or by calling (202) 885-TIXX (8499).  Group Tickets are available starting at just $5 each.
• AU students are admitted free of charge to home basketball games with a valid AU ID.

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).