WASHINGTON – For the first time since a thrilling, buzzer-beating victory three years ago, the American University men's basketball team will be back at the Charles E. Smith Center to face DC rival George Washington (5-3) on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 4 p.m. The Eagles (6-2) look to keep a hot streak going after winning their sixth game in a row earlier this week.
QUICK INFO
- Date/Time: Saturday, December 10; 4 p.m.
- Site: Washington, D.C. (Smith Center)
- Series History: American leads, 25-21
- TV: ESPN+
INSIDE THE SERIES
- American has a 25-21 lead all-time, but had lost 11 straight until a buzzer-beating victory at GW on November 12, 2019.
- The only members of the current team who played in that contest are Connor Nelson and Ben Lubarsky, and neither have been available so far this season.
- The Colonials have an 11-10 edge in games played at the Smith Center.
- The last meeting in 2019 saw Sa'eed Nelson hit a buzzer-beating jumper to prevent overtime and give American a 67-65 victory.
- The Eagles took GW to overtime at the Smith Center in 2018-19 before falling 71-67.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AMERICAN
- American has won six straight to mark its longest streak since the 2013-14 season, which was also the season of AU's last PL Championship and NCAA appearance.
- The Eagles' record through eight games marks the best start to a season since 2011-12.
- The Eagles are coming off a 69-61 victory at Mount St. Mary's earlier this week, and were led by junior Johnny O'Neil with 18 points and eight rebounds.
- Freshman Geoff Sprouse is the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Week for a second week in a row after leading all scorers with a career-high 25 points in AU's 88-62 win vs. UAlbany on Nov. 29.
- American's 88 points vs. UAlbany was a season high, and the Eagles' 71.4 percent shooting from the field tied a program record set in 2014.
- Sophomore Elijah Stephens leads the Patriot League and is tied for fourth in NCAA Division I with 3.0 steals per game.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT GEORGE WASHINGTON
- GW is off to a 5-3 start, its best since 2016-17 when the Colonials made it to the second round of the CBI.
- Head Coach Chris Caputo is the first first-year Colonial head coach to win at least five of his first eight games since George Garber started 9-0 in 1947-48.
- Senior James Bishop IV and graduate student Brendan Adams are leading the way for GW this season with 22.3 and 17.4 points per game, respectively. The duo have combined for 15 of GW's 24 double-digit efforts this season.
- Most recently, GW lost 86-76 at Radford on Dec. 4, despite a 26-point effort from Bishop. In a 79-55 win over Power 5 South Carolina on Dec. 1, Bishop scored 24 points and Adams added 18.
WINNING WAYS
- The Eagles are in the midst of a six-game win streak, the longest for the program since the 2013-14 season. The 6-2 start is also the best for the program since the 2011-12 team won eight straight games after starting out with two losses.
- That season, the Eagles had an 11-game win streak and won the Patriot League Championship to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
STEPHENS WITH THE STEALS
- Sophomore Elijah Stephens has 24 steals this season to lead the Patriot League and rank sixth in NCAA Division I. His 3.0 steals per game are tied for fourth among all players in D1.
- Stephens totaled a career-high five steals in AU's historic win at Georgetown, and four steals in the Eagles' Dec. 6 win at Mount St. Mary's.
- At his current pace, Stephens would finish the season right around the current program record of 95 steals (Jarion Childs, 1999-2000).
DOWN GO THE HOYAS
- American's win over Georgetown on Nov. 23 marked the program's first win over Georgetown since 1982, 40 years ago.
- Shooting nearly 52 percent from the field, AU scored a then season-high 74 points. The Eagles' shooting percentage was nearly 60 percent in the second half (16-of-27).
- Three Eagles recorded double figures in the win, led by junior Johnny O'Neil with 16 points and followed by freshman Geoff Sprouse with 15 and graduate student Jaxon Knotek with 14.
- The Eagles' win over the Hoyas was the program's 14th all-time win over a Big East opponent.
AT THE TOP
- Junior Matt Rogers is in the top 10 in the Patriot League in both FG percentage and rebounds, shooting 63.5 percent to rank third in shooting and averaging 5.9 rebounds per game to rank eighth.
- Freshman Jermaine Ballisager Webb is second in the league in field goal percentage, shooting 65.7 percent.
- Sophomore Elijah Stephens leads the PL and ranks fourth in the nation with 3.0 steals per game, and ranks fourth in the PL with 4.4 assists per game.
- Freshman Geoff Sprouse's 25 points against UAlbany tie for the third-most points scored in the league so far this season, while Stephens is tied for first in the single-game records with his five steals at Georgetown.
AU BASKETBALL "HOLIDAY 3-PACK TICKET MINI-PLANS – ON SALE NOW
- This holiday season treat yourself or give the gift of AU Hoops by purchasing AU Basketball Holiday 3-Pack Ticket Mini-Plans! For just $48 the men's team, and just $18 for the women's team, you'll get a sideline ticket to any 3 remaining home men's or women's games of your choice. Shopping for AU alumni and Eagle fans on your holiday list has never been easier. Purchase now through Dec. 30 at AUeagles.com/Tickets.
- Season tickets, mini-plans and individual game tickets in premium seating locations are still at AUeagles.com/Tickets.
GIVE TO THE EAGLES CLUB AND RECEIVE A HOLIDAY ORNAMENT!
- Make a minimum $25 gift to the AU Athletics Fund(s) of your choice, and receive a custom-made AU Athletics Holiday Ornament, while supplies last!
- Your gift allows us to ensure the most supportive athletic, academic, leadership, and character development programming for 267 AU student-athletes.
- It also provides the necessary resources for our coaches and teams to compete at the highest level in today's ever-challenging intercollegiate athletics environment.
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