MBB
Mitchell Layton
73
American Americ 5-12,1-4 Patriot
78
Winner Loyola Maryland Loyola 12-7,6-2 Patriot
American Americ
5-12,1-4 Patriot
73
Final
78
Loyola Maryland Loyola
12-7,6-2 Patriot
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
American Americ 37 36 73
Loyola Maryland Loyola 37 41 78

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men’s Basketball Drops Tightly Contested Battle at Loyola Maryland

BALTIMORE – Connor Nelson shot the lights out at Reitz Arena on Saturday afternoon, making 7-of-10 from three-point range, but American University men's basketball dropped a matchup with Patriot League-leading Loyola Maryland, 78-73.

QUICK NOTABLES
  • Nelson's seven triples marked a new career-high, as did his 23 points. He made 70 percent of his shots from three-point range, which is tied for second in program history.
  • The last time an AU player hit 70 percent from beyond the arc on at least 10 attempts was when Sam Iorio did so against Saint Francis on Dec. 4, 2018.
  • The Eagles shot 80.0 percent (16-of-20) from the field in the first half, surpassing their previous high of 59.3 percent set in the first half against Lehigh on Jan. 1. AU finished the afternoon shooting a season-best 63.0 percent, which ranks ninth in program history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Matt Rogers put AU on the board first after winning the tip.
  • The Eagles did not trail until a Golden Dike basket gave Loyola a 25-23 lead with 6:22 remaining in the half.
  • Nelson hit back-to-back 3-pointers as the shot clock expired, including a double-clutch bank shot with less than two minutes to go, to give AU its last lead of the half.
  • Veljko Ilic scored for the Greyhounds with 43 seconds left and the teams went into the locker room tied, 37-37.
  • Loyola came out strong in the second half and took its largest lead of the day at 51-44 with 12:51 to play.
  • Head coach Mike Brennan called a timeout and AU then rattled off a 10-0 run to take a 54-51 lead with 9:29 left. It was the last time AU held the lead.
  • Both teams traded punches the rest of the way before Cam Spencer hit back-to-back triples to give Loyola a six-point cushion with 33 seconds to go.  
  • The Greyhounds went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe in the final 18 seconds to ice the victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
  • Over a 12-minute stretch in the first half, American made 11 straight field goals.
  • The game featured 13 ties and 11 lead changes. Neither team led by more than seven at any point during the game.
  • Rogers finished the day 6-of-7 from the field for 13 points. He added four rebounds and two assists.
  • 11 of the last 13 games between American and Loyola have been decided by six points (two possessions) or less. 
UP NEXT
  • The Eagles will return to Bender Arena on Monday, Jan. 24 to face Lafayette at 7 PM.
  • American will also play at home on Wednesday, Jan. 26 against Holy Cross. Tip-off is set for 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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