WASHINGTON, March 14 (UPI) -- Garrison Carr scored a team-high 17 points Friday when American topped Colgate 52-46 to earn the Patriot League Tournament title.
It was a game-long struggle for the top-seeded Eagles, who earned the first NCAA Tournament berth in school history.
They also won the regular-season title and were playing the final at Bender Arena, their home court.
They led 27-24 at intermission but faced a 40-37 deficit with 7:25 left when Holy Cross' Alex Woodhouse sank a jumper.
No more than four points separated the teams down the stretch.
Brian Gilmore scored 11 with four rebounds and sank two key free throws late for the No. 1 seed Eagles (21-11), who have won four in a row.
Kyle Roemer led Colgate with 17 points and four rebounds.
Kendall Chones scored 13 points with six rebounds, while Woodhouse had eight points and 16 rebounds for the third-seeded Raiders (18-14), whose six-game winning streak ended.
