Nov 17, 2008

AU Men's Basketball Opens Home Schedule Against St. Francis (Pa.) Tonight at 7:30 p.m.


Nov. 17, 2008

Game Notes

Radio: 1500/820AM - Dan Laing (play-by-play), Jeremy Huber (analyst)
Web: Eagle Vision All*Access

WASHINGTON - The defending Patriot League Champion American University men's basketball team opens its home schedule on Monday, Nov. 17, against St. Francis (Pa.) at 7:30 p.m. The Eagles will hold a special pre-game ceremony prior to tipoff to unveil their 2008 NCAA Tournament banner and the first 2,500 fans through the Bender Arena doors will receive a free replica mini-banner courtesy of GEICO.

News and Notes

  • Senior forward Brian Gilmore led the Eagles in scoring against No. 12/14 Oklahoma (11/14/08) in AU's season opener. Gilmore recorded 16 points, including 12 in the second half, on 6-of-11 shooting while playing a career-high 36 minutes. Last season, Gilmore led AU in scoring twice including scoring 16 points against Navy (L 77-66, 1/30/08) and a career-high 26 against Lehigh (W 82-74, 2/10/08).

     

  • Senior forward Jordan Nichols led AU in rebounding against No. 12/14 Oklahoma (11/14/08), pulling down eight boards, including five offensive. Nichols led the Eagles in rebounding six times last season, including a season-high nine at Maryland (W 67-59, 12/22) with six offensive.

     

  • American out-rebounded No. 12/14 Oklahoma (11/24/08) on the offensive glass in its season opener, 12 to 11. Last season, AU recorded double-digit offensive boards in less than half of its games (14) and was 7-7 in those contests.

Inside the Series - St. Francis (Pa.)

All-Time Record: American Leads, 7-3
Last Meeting: W, 75-68 (11/10/07)

 

  • American owns a 7-3 all-time record over St. Francis and has won each of the last four meetings between the teams. Last season, the Eagles defeated the Red Flash, 75-65, led by a combined 43 points from Derrick Mercer and Garrison Carr. Mercer scored a game-high 22 points on 5-of-8 shooting and 12-of-12 shooting from the line while Carr scored 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting and 5-of-10 shooting from behind the arc.

 

  • AU has not lost to the Red Flash since Dec. 18, 2003, when St. Francis won at home, 75-63.

Preseason Honors

  • AU was picked first in the 2008-09 PL Preseason Poll. The Eagles received 14 of 16 first-place votes from conference coaches and Sports Information Directors.

     

  • CollegeInsider.com ranked AU at No. 23 on its Preseason Mid-Major Top 25. American is the only PL team represented on the poll.

     

  • Sports Illustrated ranked American at No. 54 in its College Basketball Preview. American is the only PL team represented in the preview.

     

  • Rivals.com listed American at No. 65 on its Preseason Top 65 Countdown. American is the only PL team represented on the countdown.

     

  • Derrick Mercer was named to the CollegeInsider.com Preseason Mid-Major All-America Team and to the Preseason All-PL Team. Last year, Mercer was chosen as CollegeInsider.com's PL MVP and was an All-PL Second Team selection.

     

  • Garrison Carr was named the PL Preseason Player of the Year and selected to the Preseason All-PL Team. The senior was also named the eighth best three-point shooter in college basketball by ESPN.com. Last year, Carr was named the PL Tournament MVP and was an All-PL First Team selection.

Milestone Watch

  • Garrison Carr (850 pts.) and Derrick Mercer (916 pts.) are on pace to become just the 27th and 28th players in AU history to record 1,000 career points this season.

     

  • Garrison Carr set new AU and PL records last season with 135 made three-point baskets and scored 606 total points, the seventh highest total in school history. Carr is currently ranked third in the PL in career three-point percentage (41.8%, 189-446), third at AU in career three-pointers (188), and first at AU in career free-throw percentage (87.5%, 119-136).

     

  • With 385 career assists, Derrick Mercer ranks fifth all-time at AU and ninth all-time in the PL. Mercer has also played in 93 career games, including 91 starts, and is on pace to set a new AU record in both categories.

     

  • Jordan Nichols has recorded 74 career blocks and ranks sixth all-time at AU.