BETHLEHEM, Pa. – For his efforts in a narrow loss to Lehigh on Saturday, Elijah Stephens was named the Patriot League GEICO Men's Basketball Rookie of the Week, the league announced on Monday. 
 
Stephens is the first American player to receive the award this season and the first since Johnny O'Neil on Jan. 19, 2021.
 
In his first career start, Stephens was up to the task. He scored a career-high 18 points on 8-of-11 from the field. In the final minute of play against the Mountain Hawks, he almost single-handedly willed AU to victory.
 
He grabbed a steal and a layup on one possession before grabbing an offensive rebound and hitting a 3-pointer on the next to get the Eagles within one point with 18 seconds to go.
 
The Waco, Texas, native has seen action in all 13 games this season, shooting 43.6 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from beyond the arc.
 
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).