Ross' 30 pts lead red-hot Lehigh past American in OT, 80-78

WASHINGTON -- Kahron Ross scored 30 points and Lehigh won its fourth straight, its second straight in overtime, when the Mountain Hawks held off American, 80-78 in a Patriot League battle on Saturday afternoon.

Monday Lehigh knocked off conference-leading Bucknell, snapping the Bison's 10-game win streak, and knocked Boston University out of second place Saturday. The Mountain Hawks moved into at least a share of fourth place

American held a 63-58 lead after a Jesse Little layup with 4:26 left, but the Mountain Hawks sprinted into the lead with an 8-0 run. Sam Iorio broke a three-minute American scoring drought, and after Ross answered with a jumper, Sa'eed Nelson tied the game with a 3 with :38 left at 68-68.

Ross scored eight straight points for Lehigh in overtime, including a free throw in the final minute that proved to be the game winner.

Lehigh (12-13, 7-7), which now has four wins in five overtime games, got 19 points from Lance Tejada and another 13 from Pat Andree. Ross finished 13 of 21 from the field and dished five assists.

American (5-20, 2-12) got 30 points from Sam Iorio, with Larry Motuzis and Nelson adding 16 and 14 points, respectively.