PROVIDENCE — Senior Damon Huffman scored a game-high 29 points as Brown led for 39 minutes en route to a 68-55 nonleague win over American University at the Pizzitola Sports Center last night.

The victory over the Eagles extends the Bears’ record to 8-5 overall, while American, which defeated Maryland earlier this year, drops to 7-7 overall.

Huffman connected on 9 of 13 field goals, including 3 of 4 from behind the 3-point arc, and converted 8 of 9 free throws.

He moved into 16th place on Brown’s career scoring list, now with 1,060 points, moving past Gerry Alaimo, who scored 1,046 points for Brown from 1955-1958.

With the eight victories this season, two Brown teams have won eight or more nonleague games since the Ivy League began play in 1951-51. Only Brown’s 2001-02 team, with nine victories, had more nonleague wins than this year’s team.

“That’s something to be proud of,” said Bears head coach Craig Robinson of his squad’s eight nonleague wins. “Our team has really put in the work to be successful.”

Brown, which earned its second straight win of the New Year, maintained control of the game throughout and led, 33-26, at the half.

The closest American got in the second half was six points with 15:08 remaining.

Brown’s offense was running on all cylinders in the first half as the Bears led by as many as 14 points, 28-14, following a four-point play by Damon Huffman, who was fouled on a 3-point basket and converted the free throw.

“This was a gutsy win for our team,” said Robinson. “Damon’s four-point play was big for our team. That’s when American really took us seriously. Our guys stood up to their pressure and physicality.”

The Eagles whittled down the Brown lead to seven points at the half, 33-26, following a trey by Travis Lee at the halftime buzzer.

Huffman had 14 first-half points for the Bears while teammate Peter Sullivan tossed in nine points before intermission.

Huffman’s 29 points was important for the Bears on a night when senior Mark McAndrew, the Ivy League’s leading scorer, was held to eight points. Sullivan finished the game with 14 points, while junior Chris Skrelja chipped in with five points, a game-high 11 rebounds and eight assists.

The Eagled had three double-figure scorers: Travis Lay with 12 points, Derrick Mercer with 11 points and Brian Gilmorewith 10 points.Brown

68

American

55

Next Game

Tuesday

at Baylor

7 p.m.