WASHINGTON – After opening up the season with back-to-back road contests, American University men's basketball will return to Bender Arena on Wednesday at 7 p.m. for its season home opener against William & Mary. The Eagles (0-2) are still looking for their first win of the season, while the Tribe (1-2) picked up their first win on Thursday, Nov. 10 over Mid-Atlantic Christian before falling to Virginia Tech on Sunday.
QUICK INFO
- Date/Time: Wednesday, Nov. 15; 7:00 PM
- Site: Washington, D.C. (Bender Arena)
- Series History: American leads, 35-12
- TV: ESPN+
- Talent: Dan Laing (pxp) and Gordon Austin (color)
INSIDE THE SERIES
- American leads the all-time series 35-15, as well as the all-time series in Bender 12-9.
- The last time the Eagles' and Tribe played in Washington, D.C. was on Nov. 8, 2019. William & Mary won the meeting 79-70.
- The last meeting between the two squads was on Nov. 12, 2021 in Williamsburg, Va. American won the meeting 74-62.
- From 1998 until 2000, American was undefeated and went 6-0 against William & Mary. This is just the third meeting between American and William & Mary since AU left the Colonial Athletic Association in 2001.
- American leads the all-time series in Bender, 19-2.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AMERICAN
- American enters Wednesday's home opener in search of its first win of the season. The Eagles dropped their first two games of the season on the road to Marist and George Mason.
- Freshman Geoff Sprouse led the Eagles' in their season opener, and his collegiate debut, with 14 points. Junior Colin Smalls led the way for American on Sunday at George Mason with a season-high 21 points. He was just one-point shy of his career-high 22 points.
- Junior Johnny O'Neil is tied for second in the Patriot League in blocks (5) and stands in first in blocks per game (2.50).
- The Eagles' first win of the season will tie head coach Mike Brennan for third on AU's all-time coaching records list, matching Ed Tapscott's 109 victories.
- The Eagles return all but one regular starter from last season but return junior Colin Smalls, who averaged 10.7 points per game during the 2021-22 season and is averaging 16.5 points per game so far this season.
- AU will hit the road for three-straight after Wednesday's game. They are slated to travel to NJIT on Saturday, Nov. 19, Georgetown on Wednesday, Nov. 23, and Saint Francis on Saturday, Nov. 26.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT WILLIAM & MARY
- William & Mary enters Wednesday's game with a 1-2 overall record. The Tribe's single win of the season so far has come over Mid-Atlantic Christian, 116-40. The Tribe's 116 points is the second-most points scored in school history.
- Junior Ben Wright was named to the CAA Preseason All-League honorable mention team, while the Tribe was picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll.
- The Tribe ranks second in the CAA in scoring offense (84.0), 3-point %, 3-pointers made, field goal % (51.1), effective field goal % (59.8), and scoring margin (+14.7).
- After Wednesday's game, William & Mary will return home for games against Army and Radford.
TICKETS AND SCHEDULE MAGNET
- Season tickets, mini-plans and individual game tickets in premium seating locations are still at AUeagles.com/Tickets.
- The first 500 fans to arrive in Bender will receive a FREE schedule magnet courtesy of opening night Official Game Sponsor & Bender Arena concessionaire, Gregorio's Trattoria.
- AU students are admitted FREE with valid undergraduate, graduate or WCL ID.
KEEP UP WITH US
