Aug. 11, 2008

Center Valley, Pa. - Three days of competition are in the books in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, and two representatives with Patriot League ties are off and running after solid efforts to aid their teams in the first games of preliminary play on Sunday. Bucknell graduate J.R. Holden tallied a game-high 19 points to lead Russia past Iran, 71-49, in men's basketball while Lafayette assistant field hockey coach Amy Tran started in goal and helped the United States field hockey team to a 2-2 tie against Argentina.

Holden shot 9-for-19 from the field, including 1-for-5 from three-point range, while contributing three rebounds, three assists and five steals in the victory. He also led all Russian players with nearly 37 minutes played in the 40-minute contest. Russia had a 24-5 lead at the end of the first quarter, and put the game away with a 25-11 edge in the fourth quarter.

The victory came in the first game in Group A of men's basketball, which includes Croatia, Lithuania, Argentina and Australia in addition to Russia and Iran. Holden and Russia will face Croatia in their next preliminary game on Monday at 11:15 p.m. (Eastern).

Tran started in goal as the U.S. field hockey team, ranked No. 11 in the world, tied No. 2 Argentina, 2-2, in the first Olympic contest for the United States squad since 1996. The U.S. squad recovered from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game in the 64th minute, with Tran making a few key saves in the second half to keep the Americans in the contest.

Tran was making her 100th international appearance for the United States team. The U.S. squad is back in action on Tuesday at 6 a.m. (Eastern) against Japan, the No. 6 ranked team in the world. The game will be televised live on the USA Network.

Three other Patriot League representatives are also taking part in 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Army's Stewart Glenister, who just completed his freshman year at West Point, will represent American Samoa as he competes in the men's 50-meter freestyle swimming event on August 14. Also, American Field Hockey Coach Steve Jennings is an assistant on the 2008 United States squad, while Army Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Head Coach Mickey Wender is serving as the head coach of American Samoa's swimming team.

Jennings and Wender are both blogging about their experiences in Beijing. Read Jennings' blog on the American University athletic website here, and Wender's blog on Army's athletic website here.

For more information on this year's olympians, as well as past Patriot League participants and updates and information on the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, visit the Patriot League Olympians page under the special features section on the League website or click here.