EMMITSBURG, Md. - It was tied at halftime and it was tied at the end of regulation, but American University men's basketball made 7-of-8 free throws in overtime (13-of-14 overall) to prevail by a score of 72-66 at Mount St. Mary's on Saturday evening. It was the second straight win for the Eagles, who improve to 4-7 overall while the Mount fall to 3-8.

QUICK NOTABLES

• All five starters for American scored at least nine points, led by Stacy Beckton Jr. with 18 points, Connor Nelson with 15 points and Matt Rogers with 14 points.
• Rogers added a team-high nine rebounds, while Beckton Jr. and Nelson each posted three steals.
• The Eagles trailed 20-10 in the first half before using a 12-0 run to take their first lead of the game.
• Beckton was 6-of-6 at the free throw line in helping AU to its best free-throw shooting of the season at 93 percent.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Just over 10 minutes into the contest, Mount St. Mary's built its first and only double-digit lead of 20-10 after a 7-2 run.
• American responded with 12 straight points, a run that began and ended with buckets by Rogers, the second of which put the Eagles up 22-20 at 5:42.
• Four more ties followed in the final minutes of the first half, which ended in a 31-31 tie. Nelson led all players with nine points at the break.
• Eight ties and 12 lead changes marked a second half that was tight the entire way, with neither team ever leading by more than three points.
• With 51 seconds left in regulation, Nelson scored for a 61-59 lead, but the Mount's Mezie Offurum answered on their next possession after grabbing an offensive rebound.
• The Eagles had time left to win it, but were called for an offensive foul, and Offurum missed his next attempt as the buzzer sounded with the teams knotted up at 61-61.
• After just one more tie at 63-63 in OT, Nelson hit two free throws to give AU the lead for good.
• The Eagles went on to hit five of their last six attempts at the line to hold off Mount St. Mary's, while also holding the Mount to 0-for-9 shooting from the field in the extra period.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Rogers was limited in minutes due to foul trouble, making his 14-point, nine-rebound effort all the more impressive. He hit 6-of-8 from the field and also dished a team-high four assists.
• The 15 points for Nelson were a season high for a second game in a row.
• American's 92.9 percent shooting at the charity stripe was its best of the season and also its best since Jan. 22, 2020 when the Eagles hit 18-of-19 in an OT win at Loyola Maryland.

UP NEXT

• American will play one last non-conference road game at George Mason on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.
• The Eagles will return to Bender Arena for a three-game homestand beginning on Dec. 28 against Siena at 2 p.m.
• Tickets to that game and all remaining AU Men's Basketball home games are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here.

HOLIDAY 3-PACK TICKET PLAN NOW AVAILABLE

• This holiday season treat yourself or give the gift of AU Hoops by purchasing AU Basketball's "Holiday 3-Pack" Ticket Mini-Plans! 
• Just $20 for women's, and $50 for men's basketball, you get a sideline ticket to any three women's or three men's home games of your choice this December or January.
• Shopping for Eagle fans on your holiday list has never been easier. Purchase this money-saving, limited-time special offer now through Dec. 24 at AUeagles.com/Tickets!

KEEP UP WITH US

• 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).