Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
American
Bucknell Falls To Future Patriot League Rival American 60-58
11/29/2000 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 29, 2000
WASHINGTON (AP)- Vladimir Buscaglia hit three free throws inside the game's final 40 seconds to help American hold off future Patriot League rival Bucknell 60-58 Wednesday night.
Buscaglia was the most reliable free-throw shooter for American, (3-1) which announced in the spring it would be leaving the Colonial Athletic Association for the Patriot League beginning next fall. Buscaglia scored eight of his 10 points from the foul line. The rest of the Eagles shot eight of 20 from the line.
Bucknell (3-2), which trailed by as many as nine in the second half, turned up the defensive intensity forcing the Eagles into numerous tough shots down the stretch, which resulted in the Eagles shooting 26 percent from the floor in the second half.
With the game tied at 55-55 Buscaglia hit two free throws with 40 seconds to play to give American the lead for good. Demek Adams hit two more free throws to push the lead to four before Jake Ramage, who led Bucknell with 19 points, hit a 3-pointer with seven seconds to play making it 59-58. Another Buscaglia free throw with five seconds to play proved to be enough for the Eagles.
Bucknell trailed most of the second half until a Ramage 3-pointer gave Bucknell a 54-53 lead with 3:44 to play despite only attempting two free throws in the second half.
The Eagles, led by Ronald Hearns' 14 points, appeared poised to pull away early in the second half when Bucknell's Peter Santos was called for a flagrant foul, which resulted in a 11-4 burst for American that pushed the lead to 50-41.
