WASHINGTON (AP) Sa'eed Nelson had 16 points and four steals, Mark Gasperini added 12 points and American beat Maryland-Eastern Shore 61-58 on Monday.
Ryan Andino hit a long 3-pointer to pull UMES to 53-50 and after American missed a 3, a technical was called on the Eagles bench. Andino made the two free throws and Thomas Rivera sank a corner 3-pointer to cap the five-point possession for a 55-53 lead - UMES's first since 5-2.
Nelson made a reverse layup in transition to tie it at 55-all, UMES missed a jumper and Delante Jones made his first basket of the second half to give American a 57-55 lead.
Jones, a sophomore who averages 56 percent at the line, made two free throws with 21.8 seconds left for a 59-55 lead. UMES turned it over and Charlie Jones made 1 of 2 free throws for a five-point lead with 13 seconds left.
Delante Jones finished with 11 points for American (3-7).
Dontae Caldwell and Andino each scored 13 points for Maryland-Eastern Shore (1-11), which lost its fourth straight.
UMES fell behind 24-11 in the first half but American only scored three points in the final five minutes and the Hawks only trailed 29-25 at the break.
