BOSTON – It was a scene that even the most optimistic American University fans could not have possibly envisioned when this basketball season began: A gang of blue-clad Eagles, picked to finish next to last in the Patriot League and featuring one senior, joining dozens of traveling students in celebrating an NCAA tournament berth.
With a 55-36 victory over top-seeded Boston University on Wednesday at Agganis Arena, AU won its third league title in seven years – and easily its most improbable.
Making their first appearance in the final since winning consecutive titles in 2008-09, the second-seeded Eagles (20-12) led the entire game and became the sixth team in 24 years other than the top seed to claim the conference trophy.
The Terriers, the preseason favorites in their first Patriot season after leaving America East, lost for the second time in 11 games and will head to the NIT.
Darius “Pee Wee” Gardner, a 5-foot-9 junior transfer from Stephen F. Austin, had 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting and senior center Tony Wroblicky added 15 points and eight rebounds as the Eagles continued to defy predictions of a ninth-place finish.
Gardner was named the tournament's most valuable player.
AU will learn its NCAA opponent and destination on Sunday night.
Maurice Watson Jr., who had a nation-high 17 assists in the semifinals, led the Terriers (24-10) with 11 points and five assists. BU, which scored 91 points in each of its previous two tournament games, shot 30.8 percent and made 1 of 17 three-pointers.
Everything flowed AU’s way most of the first half. The Terriers made three of their first 18 field goal attempts. The Eagles were very good defensively -- but not that good: BU tossed up several open clunkers and appeared more burdened by the occasion.
Marko Vasic and John Schoof made consecutive three-pointers as the Eagles busted out to a 16-7 lead.
Strong early starts have not been an accurate barometer in the series: BU led by 11 at AU and lost by 30; AU led by 10 at BU and lost by nine.
The Terriers found their rhythm. AU’s turnovers accumulated. Gardner ended a 4 ½-minute rut with a three-pointer.
The Eagles labored in their half-court offense, but Gardner bailed them out with an audacious running semi-hook and then a three-pointer with 10 seconds left as the shot clock was about to expire.
The Eagles shot 55.6 percent and made 4 of 6 three-pointers for a 24-16 halftime lead – and they did it without the benefit of a free throw or offensive rebound and without a point from leading scorer Jesse Reed. The Terriers were 6 of 25, four baskets coming on layups or tap-ins.
First-year AU coach Mike Brennan stuck with Wroblicky, despite a third foul with almost 14 minutes left. The Eagles stretched the lead to 11 as Reed made his first basket on a difficult drive and then scored in transition after Wroblicky’s blocked shot.
Each time BU threatened to make a pivotal run, AU answered. The lead grew to 12 and hovered around 10. Wroblicky made a hook shot and then fed Gardner under the basket for a layup.
The clincher came with 2:41 left when AU slapped Gardner’s missed three-pointer back to the perimeter. Gardner fired the ball inside to Charlie Jones for a layup and 14-point advantage.
All that remained were BU’s desperation heaves and AU’s net-cutting celebration.