MBB
Mitchell Layton
55
Bucknell Buck 3-15,0-6 Patriot
63
Winner American Americ 5-10,1-2 Patriot
Bucknell Buck
3-15,0-6 Patriot
55
Final
63
American Americ
5-10,1-2 Patriot
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Bucknell Buck 23 32 55
American Americ 26 37 63

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men’s Basketball Picks Up First Patriot League Win of Season against Bucknell

WASHINGTON – American University men's basketball picked up a much-needed win over Bucknell on Sunday afternoon, 63-55. It was AU's first conference win of the season after dropping its first two league contests.  

QUICK NOTABLES
  • After only scoring two points in the first half, Colin Smalls exploded to score 16 in the second half to push AU to victory. He finished with 18 points on 6-of-8 from the field and added two steals.
  • Josh Alexander came off the bench to record 12 points and five rebounds in 14 minutes of action.
  • Matt Rogers had a workmanlike performance down low, scoring nine points and grabbing eight rebounds. He and Alexander combined to hold 7-foot center Andre Screen to only eight points and four rebounds.
  • With the win, American has now won three straight games against Bucknell for the first time since 2009.
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Bucknell scored the first six points of the game to jump ahead, 6-0. It would be their largest lead of the game.
  • The two teams were within a possession of each other for almost the entire first half.
  • Elijah Stephens jumped in front of a Bucknell pass for a steal before dishing to Smalls for a layup in transition to put AU up by five with less than 30 seconds to play in the half.
  • Bucknell got a bucket to end the half and AU held a 26-23 lead at halftime.
  • AU took control in the early part of the second half, putting together an 11-4 run out of the locker room.
  • Smalls hit a wide-open three with 12:21 to play that gave the Eagles their largest lead of the game, 48-34.
  • Bucknell responded with an 8-0 run of its own to get within six.
  • AU then picked up a five-point play after Alexander was fouled while Smalls was shooting and making a three-pointer. Alexander made both foul shots to put AU back up by double-digits.
  • Bucknell fought its way back and was only trailing by six with less than a minute left. After Rogers left a shot short as the shot clock expired, Connor Nelson came out of nowhere to grab a crucial offensive rebound.
  • Stacy Beckton Jr. then drew a foul and made both free throws to push AU's lead to eight with 41 seconds left.
  • A steal and transition layup by Smalls on the ensuing possession gave AU a 10-point lead and pretty much iced the victory as the Eagles finished on top, 63-55.
BY THE NUMBERS
  • The Eagles recorded 11 offensive rebounds, which is the most for AU since grabbing 12 against Stony Brook on Dec. 1.
  • As a result, American outperformed Bucknell in second-chance points, 13-2. It's the most second-chance points for the Eagles since recording 16 against Saint Francis (PA) on Dec. 8.
  • American drew 18 fouls and went a remarkable 16-of-20 (80.0 percent) from the free-throw line. The Eagles have only shot 80 percent or better two other times this season, most recently hitting 92.9 percent (13-of-14)  from the charity stripe against Mount St. Mary's on Dec. 11.
  • American moves to 4-1 this season when entering halftime either tied or holding a lead.
UP NEXT
  • American hits the road to take on Army West Point on Wednesday at 6 PM.
  • The Eagles will return to Bender Arena on Monday, Jan. 24 to face Lafayette at 7 PM.
  • Tickets to this game and all remaining AU Men's Basketball home games are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here.
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