Nov 22, 2008

AU Men's Basketball Looks To Extend Winning Streak At Jacksonville


Game Notes

Nov. 22, 2008

WASHINGTON - The American University men's basketball team will take on Jacksonville tonight at 7 p.m. at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial in Jacksonville, Fla. The Eagles are riding a two-game winning streak into the matchup after defeating Howard on Wednesday, 65-63, and St. Francis (Pa.) on Monday, 67-46.

News and Notes

  • Senior guard Garrison Carr currently ranks 19th in the country with 68 points scored and is 38th in the nation with an average of 22.7 ppg. He also ranks in the top-50 nationally in three-point field goals (7th, 13) and field goals (12th, 25). Carr has led the Eagles in scoring each of the last two games, recording 29 points at Howard (W 65-63, 11/19/08) and 28 against St. Francis (W 67-46, 11/19/08). Carr set a career-high with 11 field goals made at Howard and matched a career-high with seven three-pointers made. Last season, Carr led AU in scoring 20 times and scored 20-plus points in 14 games.
  • AU has shot better than 50 percent from the field in each of its last two games. On Wednesday at Howard (W 67-64, 11/19/08), the Eagles shot 26-of-49 (53.1%) from the field and were 9-of-22 (40.9%) from three-point range. On Monday against St. Francis (W 67-46, 11/17/08), American made 24-of-44 (54.5%) shots from the field and was 6-of-17 (35.3%) from behind the arc.
  • Senior forward Jordan Nichols has led AU in rebounding twice this season and is averaging 6.0 rpg. In the Eagles home opener against St. Francis (W 67-46, 11/17/08), Nichols pulled down five rebounds and against No. 12/14 Oklahoma (L 83-54, 11/14/08) he grabbed 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.
  • Senior forward Brian Gilmore led the Eagles in scoring against No. 12/14 Oklahoma (11/14/08) . 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).
  • Freshman Stephen Lumpkins has improved his scoring output each game this season. Lumpkins scored four points in his collegiate debut at No. 12/14 Oklahoma (L 83-54, 11/14/08) and followed that up with five points against St. Francis (W 67-46, 11/17/08). On Wednesday at Howard (W 65-63, 11/19/08), Lumpkins scored eight points on 3-of-5 shooting.American's 21 point, 67-46, win over St. Francis (11/17/08) marked the Eagles first 20-plus point victory since defeating NJIT (11/24/07) by 23 points, 73-50, last season.

Milestone Watch

  • Garrison Carr (907 pts.) and Derrick Mercer (933 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 fi rst in the PL in career three-point percentage (42.7%, 201-471), third at AU in career three-pointers (201), and second at AU in career free-throw percentage (87.1%, 122-140).
  • With 396 career assists, Derrick Mercer ranks fi fth all-time at AU and ninth alltime in the PL. Mercer has also played in 95 career games, including 93 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.

Inside the Series - Jacksonville
All-Time Record: American Leads, 4-0
Last Meeting: W 52-50, 12/7/07

 

  • American owns a perfect 4-0 record all-time against Jacksonville. In last season's meeting between the teams, AU overcame a seven-point deficit with 3:41 left in the game to steal the victory, 52-50. Garrison Carr connected on a 17-foot jumper to tie the game at 50 with under one minute to play. After a Jacksonville turnover on the next possession, Brian Gilmore sank two free-throws with two seconds remaining for the win.
  • Saturday's game will mark only the fifth time that American and Jacksonville have played since their first meeting in 1960. American won the first game between the teams, 82-69, at the Quantico Invitational on Dec. 14, 1960.