Dec 1, 2008
AU Men's Basketball Drops Thriller to Mount St. Mary's, 57-52
Dec. 1, 2008
WASHINGTON - The American University men's basketball team was defeated at home on Monday night by Mount St. Mary's, 57-52, in a game which was not decided until the final minute. Brian Gilmore recorded a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Eagles but his efforts were not enough to withstand a second-half comeback by The Mount.
After a slow start to the first half which saw American (4-3) and The Mount combine to shoot just 3-of-16 through the first eight-plus minutes, the Eagles were first to find their stroke. Derrick Mercer connected on a three from the left corner with 7:28 on the clock to put AU ahead by three, 11-8, and start the scoring in earnest. Garrison Carr then followed Mercer in the scoring act, creating a turnover and finishing the fast break at the other end before Mercer finished off a 7-0 AU run on a jumper in the paint to give American a seven point lead, 15-8.
Mount St. Mary's (3-2) quickly closed the gap to two, 17-15, but would get no closer in the half as Frank Borden found Brian Gilmore on a fast break for a lay-in to push the lead back to four . American retook a seven-point advantage, 22-15, with just over two minutes to play as Stephen Lumpkins was fouled on an up-and-under move and completed the three-point play at the line. Heading into the half, AU held a 24-17 lead.
American pushed its lead to as many as 11 points in the first moments of the second half as Frane Markusovic and Mercer scored on back-to-back possessions to move the score to 28-17. A 12-0 Mount St. Mary's run however turned the complexion of the game around, as The Mount would take a three point lead, 33-30, with just over 13 minutes to play. Gilmore answered The Mount's run with an old fashioned three-point play to tie the score at 33 but Mount St. Mary's came charging right back with five straight points scored by Jeremy Goode to retake a five point lead, 38-33. The Mount extended its lead to 10 points, 49-39, with just over five minutes to play before the Eagles put the home crowd on its feet with a 9-2 run to climb to within three, 51-48, with 1:43 to play. Following a Mercer layup, Gilmore was credited with a steal and took it then length of the court himself for a slam to bring American to within six. Gilmore later hit a three to make the score 51-48, with 1:46 remaining.
After a Mount St. Mary's timeout, Goode was forced to put up an off balanced three as the shot clock wound down, giving the ball back to AU. The Eagles were unable to score on their ensuing possession but caught a break as Kelly Beidler hit only the first of two free throws after going to the line to put Mount St. Mary's lead at four, 52-48. Mercer pushed the ball up the court after Gilmore pulled down the rebound and was fouled as he drove to the hoop, then stepped to the line and hit both free throws, cutting the lead to two, 52-50, with 33 seconds to play.
American sent Goode to the line off the ensuing in bounds where he was able to hit just the first of two free throws, giving the Eagles the ball with one final look at the basket. AU put up a quick shot as Gilmore found himself open for three but could not connect. The rebound was put out of bounds by Mount St. Mary's however, giving American yet one more chance at the tie. A turnover though on the ensuing inbounds gave the ball back to The Mount. After Jean Cajou put Mount St. Mary's back up by five, 55-50, with two free throws with 17 seconds remaining Mercer quickly drove the length of the floor off the inbounds and put in a layup to cut the lead to three, 52-53, with 10 seconds to play. Goode ended AU's hopes of a comeback however as he made two free throws after being fouled on the inbounds to retake a five point lead for The Mount and give them the victory, 57-52.
Gilmore recorded a double-double to lead AU with 15 point and a career-high 16 rebounds. Gilmore shot 6-of-11 from the field and added two assists and two steals in 38 minutes. He is the first Eagle to record a double-double since Travis Lay did so on Feb. 27 of last season with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Carr netted 12 points, four rebounds and three assists while Mercer added 11 points, three rebounds and two assists.
American will be back in action this Saturday, Dec. 6, against local rival Georgetown in the Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C., at 1 p.m.
