Dec. 4, 2004
WASHINGTON - In perhaps one of American men's basketball's toughest home matchups in years Saturday versus Vermont, the Eagles faced a Catamount team that had previously received votes in the Associated Press Poll and featured 6-9 Preseason Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America Taylor Coppenrath.
In front of a crowd of nearly 2,000, several NBA scouts and Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, the Eagles shined under pressure, led by a career day from Jason Thomas (Herndon, Va./Notre Dame Academy [Mass.]) tying a career-high with 23 points and tallying his first career double-double, by defeating Vermont, 67-64.
Clinging to a 66-64 lead with less than 10 seconds remaining, Thomas was fouled and went to the free throw line, hitting one-of-two to give the Eagles a 67-64 lead. He then nabbed a full-court pass with 1.6 seconds remaining to seal the victory.
The final score was the culmination of a riveting second half, in which the Eagles held leads as large as nine points and even trailed early in the period (32-33 at 17:04). American, however, recovered and went on a 9-0 run over the next 3:07 to grab a 41-33 lead on a jumper by Andre Ingram (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) at the 14:11 mark. Ingram finished with 19 points, including four-of-seven from outside the arc.
The Catamounts were able to cut the lead to three points three times over the next four minutes, the last on a layup by Coppenrath. Coppenrath recovered from a slow first period to score 22 points and grab 15 boards. American answered with a 5-0 run to regain an eight-point advantage, 51-43.
Vermont once again cut the lead to three points on a jumper by T.J. Sorrentine. Sorrentine was the Catamounts' offensive answer all game, leading all scorers with 27 points.
American went on a 6-0 run and took its largest lead of the game with 1:12 left, 60-51. But the Catamounts wouldn't quit. Vermont began fouling, and American gave the visitors a slight chance to come back by hitting just five-of-nine free throws in the last minute. With 2.1 seconds remaining, Coppenrath hit a three-pointer, off a feed from Sorrentine, to set up the final moments.
American set the tone early in the first half, racing out to a 12-5 lead five minutes into the contest. Thomas had five points during the run, including a three-pointer. However, the Catamounts went to work, launching a 7-0 run, tying the game on a layup by Coppenrath at the 12:05 mark. Still, Thomas re-ignited the Eagle offense with just less than six minutes remaining, hitting a jumper and a three-pointer in a 34-second span. Reserve point guard Ryan Graham (St. John, New Brunswick/Brewster Academy [N.H.]) then hit a three-pointer to give the Eagles their biggest lead of the half, 28-19. Vermont again answered the call, with Sorrentine scoring six of the half's final eight points to put the score at 30-25 entering the lockerroom.
Sorrentine paced the Catamount offense in the opening period with 11 points, while Thomas answered for the Eagles with 10 first-half points. American's defense was up to the task against Coppenrath, as AU allowed the 6-9 forward to score just seven first-half points, well below his usual pace of 24 points per game.
American improves its record to 3-2 with the win, while dropping the Catamounts to 2-2 on the season. The Eagles play next at Towson on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. American returns home on Saturday, Dec. 11, when it hosts Ohio University.