Mike Muscala recorded 26 points and 14 rebounds and Bucknell clinched the Patriot League's regular-season title and homecourt advantage for the league tournament with a 55-50 win at American on Thursday night.
The Bison (21-8, 11-2 Patriot League) ended a two-game losing streak.
Bryson Johnson added 11 points, including two critical 3-pointers in the second half, to help the Bison rally from a 10-point first-half deficit. Bucknell struggled shooting the ball for most of the night and finished at 33.3 percent.
Daniel Munoz led American with 15 points, while Troy Brewer added 13 and Tony Wroblicky 11. Charles Hinkle, the Patriot League's No. 2 scorer at 19.1 points per game, was held to three points on 1 of 9 shooting after another terrific defensive effort by Bryan Cohen.
American had its 11-game home winning streak snapped, as the Eagles lost at Bender Arena for the first time this season. The Bison swept the season series from American for the third straight year.
Leading 41-40 inside five minutes to play, Bucknell got 3-pointers on consecutive possessions from Cohen, Johnson and Cameron Ayers to open up a 50-40 lead. Steven Kaspar had a key offensive rebound that led to the Johnson trey, which came from about 26 feet after a kick out from Muscala.
Munoz hit a trey from the right corner to make it 50-43 with 2:13 left, and then Muscala was called for a travel in the lane after Bucknell drained the shot clock most of the way down. After Brewer made 1 of 2 at the line, Johnson missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Munoz was fouled on a drive to the basket and made both to make it a 50-46 game.
The Bison got two stops but could only make 1 of 3 from the line. Then Muscala made the play of the game, blocking Blake Jolivette's layup and securing the rebound. Muscala was quickly fouled, and he swished two free throws to make it 53-46 with 15.2 seconds left.
Muscala recorded his 14th double-double and 11th 20-point game of the season. He finished 9-for-21 from the floor and 8-for-10 from the line, and he also had two assists, two blocks and a steal in 33 minutes.
BUCKNELL (21-8)
Willman 1-6 2-2 4, Muscala 9-21 8-10 26, Cohen 1-5 0-1 3, Hill 0-4 0-0 0, Ayers 2-9 2-4 8, Kaspar 0-0 0-0 0, Fitzpatrick 0-0 0-0 0, Johnson 4-7 0-1 11, Brackney 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 18-54 12-18 55.
AMERICAN U. (18-10)
Wroblicky 5-7 1-2 11, Munoz 5-9 2-2 15, Brewer 6-12 0-0 13, Schoof 0-0 0-0 0, Hinkle 1-9 1-2 3, McCormack 1-3 0-0 2, Fisher 0-0 0-0 0, Grafft 0-1 0-2 0, Jolivette 1-11 4-4 6, Hill 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-52 8-12 50.
Halftime-American U. 26-24. 3-Point Goals-Bucknell 7-15 (Johnson 3-6, Ayers 2-4, Brackney 1-1, Cohen 1-2, Hill 0-2), American U. 4-9 (Munoz 3-5, Brewer 1-1, Jolivette 0-1, Hinkle 0-2). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Bucknell 39 (Muscala 14), American U. 36 (Wroblicky 8). Assists-Bucknell 13 (Brackney, Cohen, Hill, Kaspar, Muscala 2), American U. 9 (Munoz 4). Total Fouls-Bucknell 13, American U. 17. A-1,653.
