Army @ American - The Recap

This was easily one of the most entertaining basketball games I have ever been to. American came out slow, struggling through a sluggish first half where they could not get anything going against a tough Army defense. Garrison Carr had 11 points in the first half, but both Brian Gilmore and Derrick Mercer picked up two fouls and sat the last five minutes.

With those two on the bench, Army was able to open up 34-27 halftime lead, which they pushed out to 38-27 with the first two baskets of the second half. Gilmore took over, scoring the next 12 points. He knocked down a couple threes, and capped the run with lay-ups off of back-to-back, beautiful fast breaks.

The game would go back and forth over the next 15 minutes of game time, before Cleveland Richard, who finished with a team-high 16 points, hit this three to put Army up 60-55.



After an American basket, it was Army ball with just over a minute left:



On the next possession, Army's Josh Miller would miss a 15 footer with about 10 seconds still on the clock, and Mercer grabbed the rebound. He pushed the ball up the floor, and after a scramble, Gilmore came up with the loose ball and was fouled:



He would hit one of the two free throws, and Army's half court prayer came up short, sending the Eagles into Friday's final against Holy Cross.

Gilmore finished the game with 19, 16 of which came in the second half. Carr added 17 and Mercer finished with 4 points and 8 assists. Miller had 15 for the Knights.