Feb 27, 2008
Men's Basketball Misses Chance to Clinch Regular Season Title, Loses at Navy, 83-68
Feb. 27, 2008
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The American University men's basketball team got 20 points from Garrison Carr and shot 48 percent as a team, but the Eagles couldn't overcome another big game from Navy's Greg Sprink, who finished with 34 points, in a 83-68 loss Wednesday in Alumni Hall.
AU trailed by eight at halftime, but slowly whittled the lead away. American held the Midshipmen scoreless for more than six minutes, between the 14:30 mark and the 8:14 mark of the second period, while scoring 10 points during that stretch to take its first lead, 53-51, with 9:10 left on a pair of free throws by Carr.
However, Sprink took over for Navy, scoring 11 of his 34 total points in the final seven minutes. Carr, who scored 17 points in the second half, tried to help the Eagles keep up, but his seven points over that same stretch were not enough. Navy sealed the win by hitting 11-of-12 free throws over the last 1:05.
American trailed at halftime, 41-33, despite shooting 52.2 percent (12-of-23) as a team and outrebounding the Midshipmen, 22-11, in the opening period. However, AU had 10 turnovers to Navy's one, and as such, the Mids had 12 more shots. Navy hit 42.9 percent (15-of-35) in the opening period, including 10-of-25 (40 percent) from behind the arc, to give the host its advantage.
Navy's Greg Sprink led the way with 16 first-half points, while American's Travis Lay kept the Eagles in the game with 10 points in the opening period. The Eagles trailed by as many as 12 twice, 28-16 at the 8:52 mark and 41-39 at the 3:10 mark, both times as a result of Sprink three-pointers.
Navy, which has now won five in a row, improves to 16-12 overall and 9-4 in the Patriot League. Sprink led all scorers with 34, hitting 11-of-24 shots and six-of-15 three-pointers. He tacked on seven assists and five rebounds. Meanwhile, Chris Harris had 13 points and seven assists.
The Eagles, who snapped a six-game winning streak, fall to 17-11, 9-4 in the PL. Carr's 20 led AU, while Travis Lay had 14 points and 10 rebounds, American's first double-double of the season. Derrick Mercer rounded out the double-digit scorers for American with 11 points before fouling out in the late stages of the game.
American still has a chance to win the regular season title, but must rely on Colgate to defeat the Midshipmen on Saturday, as Navy holds the head-to-head tiebreaker. Meanwhile, the Eagles must defeat Lafayette, who they play on Saturday, as well.
The Eagles conclude the regular season with that matchup against Lafayette in Bender Arena on March 1. Game time is set for 2 p.m. For tickets, click here or call (202) 885-TIXX. For fans unable to make it to the game, watch live via Eagle Vision All*Access. Click here to watch or subscribe.
