March 3, 2002

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) - Patrick Doctor had 33 points and 14 rebounds, but American University needed two 3-pointers by Glenn Stokes in the closing minutes to draw away to a 66-58 victory over Lafayette on Sunday in the semifinals of the Patriot League Tournament.

American (18-11), the top seed in the tournament, will play host to the title game on Friday, facing the winner of the Holy Cross-Bucknell semifinal.

The Eagles, who lost both regular season games against Lafayette (15-14), dominated inside. American finished with a 48-25 rebounding edge, including 19 offensive rebounds which it converted into 18 points.

American led 28-24 at halftime, but Lafayette took a 35-32 lead on Mick Kuberka's 3-pointer with 16:56 remaining. Doctor scored five straight points to put the Eagles ahead 37-35. After Kuberka tied it, Andres Rodriguez hit a 3-pointer at 14:31 to put American ahead.

The lead grew to 57-39 on Vladimir Buscaglia's 3-pointer at 11:03, but Lafayette was able to work its way back, and tied it, 53-53, on a basket by Kuberka at 3:11.

Stokes, who had made only one shot to that point, hit 3-pointers at 2:41 and 2:05, giving AU a 59-53 lead, and the Leopards got no closer than four points the rest of the way.

Brian Burke had 14 points for the Leopards, while Kuberka added 11.

Stokes finished with 11 points.

Lafayette, picked to finish seventh out of eight in the Patriot League preseason poll, ended the season with a 15-14 record in a tie for third place in the conference standings.