Bucknell University
10-11 (4-4)
American
10-11 (5-3)
Hot-Shooting American Downs Bison Men, 70-56
2/8/2003 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 8, 2003
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Glenn Stokes scored 25 points and Steven Miles added 21 as American defeated Bucknell 70-56 Sunday afternoon at Bender Arena.
American avenged a January loss to the Bison and snapped a third-place tie with Bucknell. American is now 10-11 overall and 5-3 in Patriot League play, while Bucknell is 10-11, 4-4.
The Eagles shot a sizzling 51.1 percent from the floor, including 9 of 20 from 3-point range.
Kevin Bettencourt led Bucknell with career-high 20 points and Boakai Lalugba added 14 points and seven rebounds.
Trailing by seven at 48-41 midway through the second half, Bucknell had a tough dry spell, missing a layup and three front ends of 1-and-1s in a span of four possessions.
Stokes responded with one of his five 3-pointers on the day to stretch the lead back to double figures, and American used a 9-0 run later in the half to stretch its lead to 15 at 3-48 with 4:50 to play. Two straight steals by Andres Rodriguez led to fastbreak layups to cap the decisive run.
American led by as many as 12 at 29-17 late in the opening half, but Bucknell closed with an 8-1 run to draw within 30-25 at halftime.
Bettencourt, who has won the last four Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors, made 7 of 14 shots from the floor, three coming from 3-point range. He also matched his career high with six rebounds. Lalugba was held to seven field goal attempts and saw his string of consecutive double-doubles end at four.
Stokes made five of his eight 3-point tries and 8 of 12 shots overall. Miles added a game-high eight rebounds.
Bucknell, which was hampered by 21 turnovers and 60 percent free-throw shooting, allowed 70 points for the first time in 11 games. The Bison ranked seventh nationally and first in the Patriot League allowing 58.8 ppg entering the contest.
