American 8, Bucknell 6 (15:54 first) Mastropaolo asserting himself early, a bucket and a block in the first minute. Lee with a trey and 1-2 at the line for Bucknell.

American is getting to the hole early, its first 8 points all in the paint, including an Andre Ingram dunk off a steal.

Bucknell 2-5 from the field, AU 4-8.

By the way, Bucknell's pep band consists of about a dozen tonight. The student sections at either end are only about three-quarters full, plenty of seats on both sides, but still a decent crowd. It would probably easily overflow old Davis.

Bucknell 30, AU 18 (4:48 first)
It's mostly about offense right now. Both teams shooting 7-14 from the field. Bucknell 3-4 from 3-point range, including one off the bench by Jason Vegotsky that was answered by AU frosh Garrison Carr.

Bucknell 22, AU 17 (7:58 first)
We once again have the displeasure of watching Mr. Rich Giallella at work. There might be worse officials working the league, but they are not as noticeably bad as this guy has been every time we have seen him this season.

McNaughton more assertive tonight. Has five shots so far and has hit the last two. Bucknell on a little 6-0 run at the moment.

Bucknell 22, AU 17 (7:58 first)
Last post we said McNaughton getting going. Right after that he hit two more buckets, giving him six straight points and 8 of Bucknell's dozen on a 12-2 run. Run reached 14-2 before Derrick Mercer hit a three for AU to end the draught.

Vegotsky answered with a trey for BU.

We take back what we said about Giallella. The rest of this crew is just as bad. Not sure who the other two guys are. Don't recognize them.

Want to get the crowd loud during a timeout? Bring in a little girl who can do handsprings by the dozen, dress he in a little white cheerleader outfit trimmed in orange and blue and have her do tumbling runs while your less athletic regular cheerleaders build a formation behind her.

Bucknell 40, AU 26 (Halftime)
Another way to get the crowd going: A Donald Brown dunk on the follow after Charles Lee mis-times his jump on a breakaway and misses the dunk the crowd had anticipated. Ahs to Oohs in the time it takes Giallella to comb his hair.

At the break, Bucknell shooting 15-29 (51.7 percent) 5-8 on three-pointers
McNaughton 5-8, 10 points and 5 rebounds for Bucknell
Vegotsky 8 points on 3-3 shooting, 2-2 on treys
Bucknell winning the boards 19-10

For AU, after a strong start, they are now at 9-23 from the field (39.1 percent)
Mercer and Carr each with 5 points. Ingram's only points on the breakaway. He's 1-2 and sat a long spell with three personals.

In fairness to Giallella, we should mention the names of the other two guys working the game -- John Regan and Jeff Janosik.

Google Janosik and you will find mostly Division 3 box scores prior to this season. Too many John Regans deemed more important by Google for us to find any boxes with his name in the short time we have to search during the intermission.

Bucknell 47, AU 34 (15:49 second)
Mercer with two quick fouls in the second half. The first when he tackles Badmus in frustration after Badmus picked him clean out near midcourt.

Ingram hit AU's first two shots of the half, one a three. He now has 7, which must be close to a career high vs. Bucknell for the AU senior.

McNaughton with 4 early in the half, he now has 14 and has not missed in a while.

Team fouls at the first media timeout: AU 5, BU 1.

Billbe and Ingram with three each for AU. Brown with 3 personals for BU.

Bucknell 54, AU 37
Bison on a 9-3 spurt, 7 of the points from Charles Lee, who now has 13, including two treys.

Giallella just called a double dribble on Vegotsky with Eitutavicius draped across his back.

At the timeout, one of the two Js on the crew comes over and says he heard me talking about him. Probably before the start of the second half when I discussed the Google searches. Told him I was writing about him too. Wonder if he will Google himself tomorrow.

Bucknell 63, AU 47 (7:48 second)
Bright spot for AU, three-point shooting. Eagles are 7-11 from the arc, including 3-3 by Mercer, who has 11 points.

McNaughton (16), Lee (13) and Vegotsky (10) in double figures for the Bison.

Bucknell 70, AU 47 (5:38 left)
BU student chants -- Airball, Airball everytime Linas Lekvicius touches the ball (he has had two); Gary Coleman, Gary Coleman when Mercer has the rock.

Mercer just took Badmus down WWE style after Badmus outleaped everybody under the rack for an offensive board.

Would have been an illegal slam in real wrestling. He is hit with a personal and a T, should have been ejected. It was flagrant. AP scribe Jeff Fishbein says it would even cost two minutes in Hockey, but really, probably would be a game misconduct.

Bettencourt his one of two on the T, Badmus one of two. The Coleman chant has been replaced by a chorus of boos when Mercer has the ball.

Bucknell 74, AU 53 (2:13 left)
Bettencourt now also in double figures with 11. Brown has 9.

Bucknell 74, AU 57 (FINAL)
Another way to excite the crowd, put Holland Mack in the game (1:18 left)

The final minute is left to the far ends of both benches.

Bucknell finishes 26-45 (57,8 percent) from the field 8-13 from the arc.

McNaughton 16, Lee 15, Bettencourt 11, Vegotsky 3-3 from the field, 2-2 from 3-pt., 2-2 FT 10 points. Brown 4-5, 9 points. Badmus 5 assists, 6 rebounds.

AU -- 19-42 (45.2 percent) from the field 8-15 3s
Mercer 4-4, 3-3 on treys, 2-2 FT -- 13 points