Matt Rogers
60
Winner American Americ 9-3,1-0 Patriot
47
Lafayette Laf 2-12,0-1 Patriot
Winner
American Americ
9-3,1-0 Patriot
60
Final
47
Lafayette Laf
2-12,0-1 Patriot
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
American Americ 32 28 60
Lafayette Laf 18 29 47

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men's Basketball Defeats Lafayette to Open Patriot League Action

EASTON, Pa. – Led by junior Johnny O'Neil's double-double and junior Matt Rogers' game-high 14 points, American University men's basketball (9-3, 1-0 PL) defeated Lafayette College (2-12, 0-1 PL), 60-47, to open Patriot League play at the Kirby Sports Center. It was the Eagles' ninth win of the season, and their first PL-opening win in four years.
 
QUICK NOTABLES
  • O'Neil recorded his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. His double-double marked the Eagles' second of the season.
  • The Eagles picked up their first win in Easton since 2016.
  • American's win was the Eagles' first league-opening win since the 2018-19 season when they beat Boston U., 86-74, to open league play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • American opened up the game with an 8-0 run before Lafayette broke through the Eagles' defense to put in a three-pointer with 16:03 left to play in the half.
  • The Eagles continued to pour on the points, pushing their lead out to 19 with 4:16 left to play in the half.
  • Lafayette closed the scoring gap to 14 to close out the half, sending the game into halftime with American up 32-18.
  • The two sides traded baskets to open up the second half and put the score at 34-20 in favor of American.
  • The Leopards tried to chip away at the Eagles lead, but American's offense kept moving to push the lead back out to 18 with 9:55 left to play in the half.
  • A three-point basket from graduate student Connor Nelson put American in front by 20, 53-33, for its largest lead of the game with 7:11 left to play.  
  • Lafayette pulled back within 10, 54-44, with just under three minutes to play but American was able to hold off the Leopards' comeback attempt and secure the 60-47 win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • American shot 60.0 percent from the field. Three Eagles shot 100.0 percent from the field, with Rogers going 5-for-5, freshman Jermaine Ballisager Webb going 2-for-2 and junior Lorenzo Donadio going 2-for-2.
  • Sophomore Elijah Stephens led the team with five assists and O'Neil led the team in steals with three.
  • American scored 30 of its points in the paint.
  • The Eagles held the rebounding advantage, pulling down 37 rebounds to Lafayette's 19.
UP NEXT
  • American returns to Bender Arena on Monday, Jan. 2 for its Patriot League home opener against Loyola Md. The game is slated for a 2 p.m. start.
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