LEWISBURG, Pa. --
Sa'eed Nelson scored a new season-high 28 points and became the third American men's basketball player to score 2,000 career points, but AU struggled from three-point range and the free-throw line, dropping a tough road game inside Sojka Pavilion on Saturday afternoon.
NELSON NOTABLES
- Sa'eed made a season-high 12 field goals on his way to a game-high 28 points, and passed Willie Jones (1957-60) for third place on American's all-time scoring list.
- Now standing at 2,008 career points, Sa'eed is only the eighth player in Patriot League history to reach the 2,000-point plateau.
- After recording four assists and eight rebounds on Saturday, Sa'eed has 503 career assists and 526 career rebounds.
- As of today, Sa'eed is the only active NCAA D-I player, and the first in Patriot League history, to have 2,000 career points, 500 career rebounds, and 500 career assists.
OTHER GAME NOTES
- Josh Alexander saw his most minutes (13) since facing Holy Cross on Jan. 18, 2020. He made them count, matching a career-high with 12 points.
- Connor Nelson set a new career-high with six assists, and matched a career-high with four steals. He has now had at least three steals in three straight games.
- American drops to 13-12, including 9-5 in Patriot League play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After AU scored the first bucket of the afternoon on its first possession, Bucknell put up a 10-0 run to take an early 10-2 lead.
- American climbed back within three after Mark Gasperini fought through contact in the paint to cut the deficit to 15-12 with 9:44 remaining in the half.
- Bucknell responded with a 10-2 run to take its largest lead of the half at 25-14 with 6:26 to play in the half.
- The Eagles finally found some momentum in the final five minutes, cutting the lead to 32-30 with 26 seconds remaining thanks to two free throws from Sa'eed Nelson.
- The Bison closed the half with a three-point play to take a 35-30 lead into the break.
- The second half started slow as neither team could get in a rhythm offensively.
- A heads-up offensive rebound by Connor Nelson off a missed free-throw led to a bucket that tied the game at 37-37 with 14:33 remaining.
- Bucknell hit three straight three-pointers in the middle of the half to halt any momentum American was trying to build, ultimately taking its largest lead of the game at 61-49 with 6:47 left.
- The Eagles began fouling with 1:10 to go and gave themselves a fighting chance due to Bucknell struggling from the line.
- The Bison went 6-of-14 from the charity stripe in the final 70 seconds, and American cut the lead to three on three occasions in the final 30 seconds.
- With three seconds to play, Bucknell missed the first free-throw attempt, but drained the second to give the Bison a 72-68 lead that proved to be the final margin.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Three Eagles had eight rebounds on Saturday: Yilret Yiljep, Stacy Beckton Jr., and Sa'eed Nelson.
- As a team, AU grabbed 43 boards, setting a new season-high.
- American made just two three-pointers against Bucknell, its lowest total of the season.
- The Eagles shot just 10-of-20 from the free-throw line.
MILESTONE WATCH
- Sa'eed now stands at 2,008 career points, six away from passing Brian Gilgeous (1989-93) and moving into second place on AU's career scoring list. To move into first place, Sa'eed now needs 49 points.
- Looking at the Patriot League scoring list, Sa'eed has a chance to move up several spots over the next few games. He currently sits in seventh place after passing Kyle Wilson of Army West Point (2012-16), who had 2,001 career points.
- Only 67 points separate Sa'eed from moving into third place on the PL scoring list.
- Sa'eed now stands at 503 assists and needs four helpers to pass Mike Sampson (1984-1988) and move into third place on AU's career assists list.
UP NEXT
- The Eagles return home to take on Navy on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
- Tip-off for Military Appreciation Day in Bender Arena is set for 7 p.m.
INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKET INFO
- The next home men's basketball game in Bender Arena will be Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. vs. Navy. Great seats are available for this and all remaining Patriot League basketball home games.
- Secure your seats today by visiting AUeagles.com/Tickets or by calling (202) 885-TIXX (8499).
- Group Tickets are available starting at just $5 each.
- AU students are admitted free of charge to home basketball games with a valid AU ID.
KEEP UP WITH US
- For the latest on American University Men's Basketball, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_MBasketball), Facebook (/AU.MBasketball) and Instagram (@au_mbasketball).
