POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – American University men's basketball (0-1) dropped its season opener, 73-69 at Marist (1-0) on Wednesday night. Freshman Geoff Sprouse led American in scoring with 14 points in his collegiate debut.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Marist won the tip and put in the first points of the game, a three-pointer about two minutes into the game.
• Junior Matt Rogers responded with a three for the Eagles to tie up the game.
• The two squads traded buckets until Marist took a 13-12 lead with 14:30 left to go in the half.
• Freshman Jermaine Ballisager Webb and junior Colin Smalls put in back-to-back buckets to put the Eagles up 16-13 with 12:52 left to play in the first half.
• The game was tied 12 more times in the half before American was able to pull away to take a 39-38 lead heading into halftime.
• The Red Foxes put in the first points of the second half to take a one-point lead, 40-39.
• Smalls responded with a three-pointer for the Eagles to put them back in front 42-40.
• After the squads traded buckets to put the score at 50-50, Marist went on a 5-0 run to put the score at 55-50.
• AU battled back to once again tie the game at 55-55 with 9:21 left to play.
• Marist grabbed the lead once again, 63-58, but a three-point basket from sophomore Elijah Stephens and two extra shots from freshman Geoff Sprouse tied the game at 63-63.
• With five minutes to go in the game, American took a one-point lead off a Sprouse three-pointer, but Marist countered with a three of its own and from there took possession of the game to secure the 73-69 season-opening win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Freshman Geoff Sprouse led the Eagles in scoring with 14 points. Junior Colin Smalls and junior Matt Rogers also totaled double figures in points with 12 each.
• Both Johnny O'Neil and Rogers totaled six rebounds.
• The Eagles shot 44.3 percent from the field while Marist shot 51.9 percent.
• American outscored Marist by one point, 39-38 in the first half, going 17-33 from the field including 5-12 from beyond the arc.
• American held the 35-30 rebounding advantage, pulling down 10 offensive rebounds and 25 defensive rebounds. The Eagles also held the 3-2 block advantage.
• Overall, the game had 13 ties and 18 lead changes.   

UP NEXT

• The Eagles will travel to Fairfax, Va., on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. to take on George Mason.
• American will open its home slate on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. against William & Mary.

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• 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).