AU Men's Basketball Falls to No. 20/18 Georgetown, 73-49

Dec. 6, 2008

Box Score

WASHINGTON - The American University men's basketball team was defeated by No. 20/18 Georgetown on Saturday, 73-49, at the Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C. Derrick Mercer and Garrison Carr led the Eagles with nine points apiece but a quick start for the Hoyas gave them the edge.

American fell behind Georgetown early as Jessie Sapp hit a three just over one minute into the game to begin a 13-0 Hoya run. Brian Gilmore ended the run with a three of his own and then hit a left handed baby-hook in the lane to move the score to 15-5. Georgetown pushed its lead to 15 points, 22-7, on a second Sapp three following a Derrick Mercer pull-up jumper. Nick Hendra connected from three to pull the Eagles to within 12 and Garrison Carr hit a tough layup to also close the gap to 12 but both AU baskets were answered on the other end by the Hoyas to preserve their lead. A driving lay-in scored by Greg Monroe gave Georgetown a 37-12 lead with under one minute to play and a buzzer beating three by Chris Wright gave the Hoyas a 40-12 lead heading into the half.

Frank Borden came out of the intermission with a hot hand, scoring six of the Eagles first eight points in the half. The Hoyas however matched Borden's output and with just over 15 minutes to play the Eagles trailed 50-20. After two Carr free throws and a Mercer three, the Eagles had cut the lead to 54-29 with 11:42 to play. AU continued to chip away at the lead and moved the score 60-38 following a Gilmore and-one. The Eagles would get to within 21 points of the Hoyas on a Carr three with five minutes remaining but no closer as Wright scored five straight points to put Georgetown ahead 69-43. The teams would trade buckets down the stretch as Georgetown took the victory by a score a 73-49.

American was led by nine points from both Carr and Mercer. Borden and Gilmore each added eight and Stephen Lumpkins notched six. Gilmore led the Eagles on the glass for the third straight game as he pulled down six rebounds, including three offensive.

The Eagles will be in action again next Wednesday, Dec. 17, as they take to the road to face another local foe, George Washington, at 7:30 p.m.