Bison Hang Tough, Eagles Hang On

Once the final buzzer sounded, the American Eagles let out a big sigh of relief, while the Howard Bison could only wonder how they let another game slip away.

After nearly squandering a 10-point lead in the final four minutes, American held on for a 65-63 victory over Howard last night at Burr Gymnasium.

"Certainly we dodged a bullet tonight," American Coach Jeff Jones said. "We're very fortunate to come away with a win. We can't get it through our heads how hard you have to play. I get the feeling our guys want it to come too easily too quickly."

Howard Coach Gil Jackson was no less frustrated with his players and how they let a seven-point halftime lead evaporate.

"We tend to get a lead then some players forget how they got the lead," Jackson said. "We have some players who like doing what they can't do. They don't understand to win you've got to play to your strength all the time."

American (2-1) appeared to have the game in hand when Stephen Lumpkins threw down a forceful two-handed dunk to put the Eagles ahead 62-52. But then American tried to run time off the clock rather than score quickly, and the Eagles' tentativeness nearly cost them. Howard (1-2), which had suffered through its own late-game scoring drought in its previous game against Navy, capitalized. The Bison pulled to 65-63 with 19 seconds to play.

After Garrison Carr missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw situation, Howard tore down the court to set up its final play. American's Derrick Mercer nearly caused a steal. As several players dived for the ball, Eugene Myatt came up with it. He lofted a three-point shot from the left wing that would have won the game had it fallen. Instead, the ball hit the rim and Nick Hendra grabbed the rebound as time expired, sealing American's win.

"I rushed it," Myatt said. "I wasn't sure about the time."

Myatt, whose twists and contortions seemingly add an extra degree of difficulty on each shot, finished with 19 points. Curtis White added 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting.

In a well-played first half -- both teams shot better than 50 percent -- Howard seized the early lead by taking advantage of the Eagles' early foul trouble that rendered their starting front court nearly invisible.

American forward Brian Gilmore, the team's second-leading scorer, played just five minutes in the first half after picking up two fouls to start the game. Forward Frank Borden lasted only one minute more and center Frane Markusovic lasted a mere four minutes. While neither Borden nor Markusovic play more than 20 minutes a game, Gilmore's absence was acutely felt.

Fortunately, American has the Patriot League preseason player of the year on its roster. Carr, who holds the conference's single-season record for three-pointers made in a season, doesn't appear affected by the extension of the arc.