WASHINGTON (AP) -Riley Grafft scored 13 points and American held off Howard 59-53 on Tuesday night in a game between winless teams.
The Eagles (1-7) snapped their worst losing streak to open a season since the 1994-95 team began 0-11 and finished 9-19.
The game was tied at 9 with 8:46 to go in the first half and at 19 with 2:13 left. American used a 5-0 run to lead 24-19 lead at halftime.
Nick Hendra began the second half with a 3-pointer for the Eagles' largest lead.
The Bison (0-8) pulled ahead at 40-38, but the game was tied three more times, the last at 45 with 5:01 left. American then scored six straight points.
After Howard pulled within 53-51 with 1:11 left, the Eagles were 6-for-6 from the foul line.
Hendra and Stephen Lumpkins added 12 points for American.
Calvin Thompson led the Bison with 14 points and Dadrian Collins and Paul Kirkpatrick had 13 apiece.
