WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Amon Dörries scored 21 points and made a crucial free throw with six seconds remaining Wednesday night to lift Bucknell to a 60-59 men’s basketball win over American at Bender Arena. The Bison, who trailed 29-24 at halftime, outscored the Eagles 36-30 after intermission. Dörries, a 6-foot-11 junior from Potsdam, Germany, led all scorers. Pat Curtin added 12 points for Bucknell. American’s Geoff Sprouse hit a 3-pointer with 1:34 left to give the Eagles a 59-56 lead, but Bucknell closed with the final four points. The Eagles, who entered as 7.5-point favorites, shot just 34.5% from the field. Sprouse and Kade Sebastian each scored 12 points for American. Attendance was 953. Bucknell improved to 8-16 overall, while American fell to 13-11.

WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a game defined by grinding defense and missed opportunities, Amon Dörries delivered when it mattered most. The 6-foot-11 junior from Potsdam, Germany, sank a free throw with six seconds remaining to lift Bucknell to a 60-59 victory over American in a Patriot League men’s basketball clash on Wednesday night at Bender Arena. The Bison, who entered as significant underdogs, snapped a two-game skid and improved to 8-16 overall. The Eagles, projected by analytics to have a nearly 77 percent chance to win, fell to 13-11, seeing their hopes for a conference title take a hit in front of a sparse crowd of 953. The contest was a stark contrast in styles and efficiency. Bucknell, despite being out-rebounded 13-6 on the offensive glass and committing 12 turnovers, won by maximizing its possessions. The Bison scored 60 points on just 58 trips, an offensive rating of 103.3, while American managed only 59 points on 60 possessions, a rating of 98.0. The Eagles’ frigid shooting was the story, as they connected on just 20 of 58 attempts from the field, including 12 of 36 from beyond the arc. Dörries was the central figure, pouring in a game-high 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. He added seven rebounds and three steals in 37 minutes, anchoring a Bucknell interior attack that produced a decisive 24-14 advantage in points in the paint. Pat Curtin, a guard from Ellicott City, Maryland, provided crucial support with 12 points. American was led by Geoff Sprouse’s 12 points, all coming on four 3-pointers, and Kade Sebastian’s 11 points. But the Eagles’ offense often stalled, relying heavily on perimeter shots that refused to fall consistently. They shot just 34.5 percent overall and were outscored 16-5 in fastbreak points, unable to capitalize on Bucknell’s miscues despite a 13-12 edge in points off turnovers. The game’s pivotal sequence unfolded in the final chaotic minute. With Bucknell clinging to a 58-56 lead, American’ Matt Mayock grabbed an offensive rebound and found Sprouse for a clutch 3-pointer from the wing, giving the Eagles a 59-58 advantage with just 34 seconds left. Bucknell called a timeout to set up a play. Out of the huddle, the ball found Achile Spadone, whose 3-point attempt was blocked by Sebastian. Greg Jones secured the rebound for American, but the Eagles immediately turned it over when Julen Iturbe was fouled. Iturbe missed the front end of a one-and-one with 24 seconds left, and Dörries grabbed the defensive board. After another timeout, Bucknell’s Jayden Williams missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer. In the scramble for the rebound, Dörries was fouled by Geoff Sprouse while going back up, sending him to the line for two shots with six ticks on the clock. He calmly sank the first to tie the game. His second attempt rimmed out, but Sebastian was called for a foul on the box-out, sending Dörries back to the line. He missed the first of this new one-and-one opportunity, but Sebastian also missed the front end of a one-and-one at the other end after being fouled on the rebound attempt. Spadone secured the final rebound as time expired, sealing the narrow victory. The first half set the tone for the defensive struggle, with American taking a 29-24 lead into the break despite shooting 10 of 30 from the field. Bucknell stayed close by attacking the rim, with Dörries scoring 10 first-half points. The Bison surged early in the second half, using a 13-4 run to take a 40-37 lead and setting the stage for the tense back-and-forth finish that featured five lead changes in the final five minutes. Spadone finished with nine points, five rebounds and three assists for Bucknell, while Williams added eight points and five assists. For American, Jones had 10 points and four assists, Mayock scored seven, and Iturbe added nine points. The victory provides a significant boost for a Bucknell team that has endured a difficult season, marked by several close losses including an overtime defeat to Army and a two-point loss at Lafayette in its last two games. For American, the loss is a missed opportunity to solidify its standing in the Patriot League race, continuing a pattern of inconsistency in conference play. Bucknell next hosts Colgate on Saturday, while American travels to face Navy on the same day. The two teams will meet again in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 18.

Preview: Bucknell Bison at American Eagles WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Two Patriot League teams trending in opposite directions will meet Wednesday night when the American Eagles host the Bucknell Bison at Bender Arena. American (13-10 overall) looks to solidify its position in the conference standings and rebound from a narrow 67-65 home loss to Lafayette last Saturday. The Eagles had won three straight prior to that defeat. Bucknell (7-16) arrives with momentum from a dramatic 103-97 double-overtime victory over Boston University, also on Saturday, which snapped a four-game skid. The matchup features two of the league’s standout performers. Bucknell will lean on guard Amon Dörries, who is coming off a career-high 36-point effort in the double-overtime win. Over his last five games, Dörries is averaging 23.2 points. He scored 26 points in a loss at Loyola Maryland on Jan. 24. American counters with forward Madden Collins, a versatile contributor who posted 22 points against Loyola Maryland on Jan. 28 and 26 points with eight rebounds against Holy Cross on Jan. 10. In the loss to Lafayette, Collins filled the stat sheet with 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks. The Bison’s win over Boston University required a heroic effort, with Pat Curtin adding a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds and Achile Spadone scoring 24. Replicating that offensive explosion on the road will be a challenge against an American team that allows an average of 65.9 points per game at home. The Eagles have been strong at Bender Arena this season, boasting a 9-3 record. Their defense will be tested by a Bucknell squad that just produced its highest point total of the season. Wednesday’s contest is the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs this month. They are scheduled to meet again in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 18. Following this game, American travels to face Navy on Saturday. Bucknell returns home to host league-leading Colgate on Saturday.