WASHINGTON – American University men's basketball (5-2) picked up its fifth straight win Tuesday night, beating UAlbany (3-6) 88-62. Led by freshman
Geoff Sprouse with a career-high 25 points, the Eagles shot 71.4 percent from the field and recorded a season-high 88 points.
QUICK NOTABLES
- The Eagles' 26-point win was the largest margin of victory for the program since Feb. 29, 2020 when they defeated Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., 90-47.
- American shot 71.4 percent from the field, tying the program's all-time field goal percentage record that was last set on Jan. 22, 2014 against Boston U. American went 30-42 in that game and 35-49 Tuesday night in Bender.
- Freshman Geoff Sprouse totaled a game-leading and career-high 25 points. He went a near perfect 10-11 from the field and 5-6 from beyond the arc.
- Junior Matt Rogers totaled a season-high 20 points while freshman Jermaine Ballisager Webb was right behind him in double figures with a career-high 12.
- The last time American won five-straight was during the 2015-16 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UAlbany won tip but it was Rogers for American who put in the first points of the game to give American the early lead. The Great Danes then responded with a 4-0 run to take the lead, 4-2, early in the game.
- The two sides traded the lead five more times in the first half until with the score tied 25-25 a layup by Rogers gave the Eagles back the lead.
- The Eagles then poured on 16 more points in the half to take a 43-31 lead at the end of the first half.
- American opened up the second half with an 8-0 scoring run to take a 51-31 lead.
- The two sides then traded baskets before it was UAlbany who went on a 5-0 run of its own to put the score at 53-38.
- Junior Chris Gleaton broke up the Great Danes run with a layup and then the Great Danes countered with one of their own to put the score at 55-40.
- A layup by Sprouse then sparked another run for the Eagles, this time another 8-0 run to give themselves a 63-40 lead with 11:38 left to play.
- The Great Danes broke the Eagles' run with a three-point basket to put the scoring margin to 20, 63-43.
- American was able to keep the Great Danes at a distance for the rest of the game, scoring a season-high 88 points to secure the win in Bender on Tuesday night.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Rogers went a perfect 8-8 from the field, 1-1 from beyond the arc and 3-3 from the charity stripe.
- Senior Jaxon Knotek led the Eagles in rebounds with six, and sophomore Elijah Stephens led in assists with six and steals with three.
- American held the 29-17 rebounding advantage and the 9-6 steal advantage.
- The Eagles 23 assists was a season-high as well as were their 88 points.
UP NEXT
- American is off for the next week and will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 6 in Emmitsburg, Md. to take on Mount St. Mary's. The game is set for a 7 p.m. start.
- The Eagles will then remain on the road on Saturday, Dec. 10 for a game against local opponent George Washington, before returning to Bender on Tuesday, Dec. 13 for a 6 p.m. game against VMI.
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