WASHINGTON (AP)_ Jason Thomas matched a career-high with 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, leading American to a 67-64 win over Vermont on Saturday afternoon.
Andre Ingram added 19 for the Eagles (3-2), who led Vermont (2-2) by eight with 6:31 to play, but a late free throw nearly cost American its seventh straight home win.
T.J. Sorrentine led the Catamounts with 27 points and Taylor Coppenrath scored 22 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and hit an unlikely 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to pull Vermont to 66-64.
Thomas made a free throw with 1.6 seconds left and intercepted Vermont's desperation pass to seal the win.
The Eagles were able to limit Coppenrath in the first half, holding the Naismith Award candidate to seven points and five rebounds. Vermont had to settle for 31 3-point attempts in the game, including 5-of-13 shooting from long range by Sorrentine.
American turned the ball over 16 times and missed five of its 10 free throw attempts in the final 1:01, but the defense held Vermont without a field goal for two key stretches to protect the lead.
Sorrentine's drive through the lane with 5:14 left cut American's lead to 54-51, but the Catamounts didn't hit another shot from the floor until there was 1:04 left when they were down nine.
The Eagles also held Vermont, which had two one-point leads for a total of 56 seconds, without a field goal for the final 3:44 of the first half to take a 30-25 lead.
