MANILA, Philippines -- For a moment, Ateneo seemed headed for a repeat of its lone loss this season.

But this time, the Blue Eagles mustered enough energy in the closing minutes to hang on to a 78-74 decision against the Far Eastern Tamaraws and keep the solo lead in the 71st UAAP men's basketball competition Saturday at the PhilSports Arena.

Rabeh Al-Hussaini buried the marginal basket at the paint with 51.9 seconds remaining after the Tamaraws rose from 15 points down, 67-52, in the last eight minutes and threaten within a bucket at 76-74.

"Luckily, we had enough to hang on there in the end; we had a pretty good lead and they made a run at us," said coach Norman Black nine days after the Eagles recovered from their first setback, 72-66, where the Tamaraws also overhauled an early lead.

Eric Salamat commanded the Eagles' fourth-quarter run to finish with a career-high 18 points for the Eagles, who posted their seventh triumph in eight matches.

Al-Hussaini posted 16 points and nine rebounds, while skipper Chris Tiu also added 16 markers.

"The strategy for the night was to hammer them inside because we know they're lacking in big men and we had a lot," said Black of the Tamaraws, who fell to third place at 5-3.

The Eagles launched a scoring tear early in the fourth quarter that blew the game wide open, 67-52, following three tight quarters.

As the Tamaraws missed their first three attempts, the Eagles nailed their first four shots in the final period starting with back-to-back triples by Kirk Long and Salamat.

But the Tamaraws staged its own run behind Mark Barroca to trim the gap at six, 76-72, with 1:26 minutes remaining.

Sustaining the surge, the Tamaraws again scored back-to-back to threaten within a bucket, 76-74, with only a minute left after a JR Cawaling fastbreak off a steal from Ryan Buenafe and a Barroca conversion off an Ateneo turnover.

The Tamaraws skidded to their second straight loss since the departure of big man Robert Kave, who returned to Papua New Guinea due to trauma after witnessing the brazen shooting of teammate Mac Baracael just near the FEU gym.

The scores:

ATENEO 78 -- Salamat 18, Tiu 16, Al-Hussaini 16, Buenafe 10, Long 5, Reyes 5, Baldos 3, Baclao 3, Salva 2, Austria 0, Nkemakolam 0, Escueta 0.

FEU 74 -- Cervantes 14, Sanga 13, Fernandez 11, Barroca 9, Cawaling 7, Knuttel 6, Alisbo 5, Adolfo 4, Ramos 3, Tanuan 2, Macazo 0, Cabagnot 0.

Quarters: 13-15, 36-33, 57-51, 78-74