Last-second 3-pointer lifts Lafayette to final
Tears streamed down Nick Hendra’s cheeks. Vlad Moldoveanu pulled his shirt up over his face.
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After they lost on a 3-point shot with two seconds left in the second overtime of the Patriot League semifinals, asking the American University players how it happened seemed like cruel and unusual punishment.
Hendra tried to explain, but the words wouldn’t come out. Moldoveanu mustered a few heartfelt sentences, then squeezed his eyes shut and covered his face, not wanting to relive it.
For the American seniors, Sunday’s 73-71 loss to Lafayette — on a 3-pointer from the wing by Jim Mower — was an abrupt end to a season of great expectations. The Eagles (22-9) finished a win short of the Patriot League championship game, falling before 2,013 at Bender Arena to a team they had beaten 14 straight times.
“I’m really sorry that this team couldn’t bring back the championship to where it belongs,” Hendra said. “I feel personally responsible.”
Moldoveanu was just as disconsolate.
“I’m not sure what happened,” the 6-foot-9 forward said. “We said we wanted to be a championship team. But you have to defend to be a championship team. I don’t think we did that very well tonight.”
AU’s most costly breakdown came when Lafayette (13-18) inbounded with 6.7 seconds left. Point guard Tony Johnson (10 points, seven assists) drew the defense and found Mower (nine points, six rebounds) on the wing. The junior fired without hesitation, swishing an open 20-footer.
“It’s my first game-winner,” Mower said. “I was fortunate they left me for a second. I think they were expecting Tony to take the shot.”
It was a tough way to go out for Moldoveanu (25 points, nine rebounds), who scored six points in the second overtime but missed a 3-pointer from the corner as the shot clock ran down, which gave the Leopards their winning possession.
“Seeing those two guys up here, gives you some insight as to what the locker room is like,” AU coach Jeff Jones said. “The guys are understandably disappointed. Whether you’re college age or a 50-year-old coach, it’s the kind of thing that sticks with you. Hopefully with time, that pain, that disappointment will subside a little bit.”
Moldoveanu made 8 of 23 shots and 1 of 6 from beyond the arc, typifying the struggles of the Eagles who hit 39 percent from the floor and made just 3 of 16 from 3-point range.
“He got some good looks. Sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way,” Jones said. “He shouldered such a big load for this team, all year long. Tonight was another example. It highlights one guy can’t do it all. You need somebody else to step up and make some plays. That didn’t happen enough.”
After a rough first half, AU junior Stephen Lumpkins (19 points, 11 rebounds) rose. AU guard Troy Brewer (14 points) had a chance to win it at the end of regulation, but his jumper from the top of the key rattled in and out.
AU, seeded No. 2, was hoping for a rematch with No. 1 Bucknell (24-8), which beat the Eagles twice in the regular season. Instead, No. 6 Lafayette becomes the first team seeded lower than third to play in the championship game in the Patriot League’s 21 seasons. The teams meet Friday afternoon at Bucknell.
Lafayette was led Sunday by 6-9 senior Jared Mintz (18 points, 6 rebounds), but the key for the Leopards was balance. Lafayette’s bench out-scored AU’s 29-2. Junior forward Ryan Willen (14 points, 6 rebounds) and senior guard Ben Wheeler (6 points) came off the bench and combined to hit 4 of 5 from the arc.
“I don’t think we played well. I think we played awfully hard,” Jones said. “Lafayette was better. They made the big shots. They made the big plays. They made one more play than we did.”
A jumper by 6-9 sophomore Levi Giese (5 points) put Lafayette up, 43-37, matching its biggest lead, midway through the second half. But AU battled back. After Brewer hit a driving bank shot to tie, Lumpkins scored inside to give AU its first lead of the second half, 50-48, with 62 seconds left.
After Lumpkins added one of two free throws with 27 seconds left, Willen answered with a 3-pointer, off a feed from Johnson, with 13 seconds to go, sending the game to overtime.
Brewer opened with a 3-pointer and AU still had a three-point lead with two minutes left as Hendra (9 points, 4 assists) hit a driving layup. But the Leopards were clutch again, scoring on their next three possessions to tie it, 62-all, sending the game to a second extra period.
“I think we did a pretty good job defensively,” Jones said. “When there was a crack they did make us pay, time and time again.”
Just as Moldoveanu appeared to take control, scoring inside for his sixth point of the second overtime and a 68-62 lead, Lafayette answered with more clutch stuff, scoring on four straight possessions and setting the scene for Mower’s game winner.
“They shot the ball really, really well,” said Moldoveanu. “I missed some really big shots. I feel really guilty for it.”
