Patriot League Semifinals
American to Face Top-Seeded Holy Cross
Saturday, March 3, 2007; Page
Records: No. 4 seed Eagles 16-13, No. 1 Crusaders 23-8
When: 2 p.m.
Where: Hart Center, Worcester, Mass.
At Stake: A berth in Friday's final vs. No. 6 Army (15-15) or No. 2 Bucknell (21-8) at a site TBD
Radio: WWRC (1260 AM)
Season Series: Holy Cross won both games (69-64 in OT on the road at AU, 58-47 at home).
Outlook: After defeating No. 5 Colgate, 59-44, in Wednesday's quarterfinals, the Eagles will attempt to end a six-game losing streak against the Crusaders, who are 12-0^ at home and have won 16 of their past 18^ . Their only two losses were a three-point defeat^ at Bucknell, which ended a 12-game^ winning streak, and a one-point^ outcome at CAA power Hofstra. The Eagles have won a season-best five straight^ , during which they have yielded an average of 55.6^ points per game. Holy Cross ¿ which routed Lafayette, 83-53^ , in the quarterfinals ¿ had the Patriot League's stingiest defense during the regular season, allowing 57.4 points per game^ . Crusaders senior guard Keith Simmons^ , the league's leading scorer at 17.5 points per game, was named the Patriot player of the year^ . Eagles senior guard Andre Ingram, a first-team all-league selection^ , averages 15^ points per game and is shooting 42^ percent from three-point range.
¿ Steven Goff
