ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Shooting over 50 percent from the field, American University men's basketball (14-7, 6-4 PL) cruised to victory over Navy (11-11, 4-6 PL), 73-69 in a Patriot League road game. The Eagles picked up their first win over the Midshipmen in Alumni Hall since 2020, and their second win in a row since dropping four straight games.
QUICK NOTABLES
- The Eagles picked up their first win over the Midshipmen, in either Annapolis or Bender Arena, since 2020.
- The win moves American's Patriot League record to 6-4 and puts the team in a tie for third with Army in the league standings.
- Junior Matt Rogers led the team with 18 points, going a perfect 9-9 from the field. He also led the team in rebounds with four.
- Every Eagle that saw the court in Saturday's game recorded points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- American won the tip and the two sides traded the lead until American took an 11-7 lead off a layup from Rogers.
- The Midshipmen came back and took an 16-11 lead before back to back shots from beyond the arc from freshman Geoff Sprouse gave American a 17-16 lead.
- Navy once again rallied, pulling out to a 23-19 lead with just over 11 minutes to play in the half until four points from junior Colin Smalls pulled American even, 23-23, with the home team.
- American then jumped out to a 34-29 lead with just under four minutes to play in the half before Navy stormed back to take a three-point lead.
- Graduate student Connor Nelson put in a three-pointer at the buzzer at the end of the first half to send the game into halftime tied 37-37.
- The two sides traded off baskets to start off the second half until American took a 46-41 lead.
- Navy pulled within two off a three-point shot but Sprouse responded for American with two threes of his own to put the Eagles up by five. '
- American continued to pull away from Navy, eventually pulling out to a 10-point lead with 7:16 left to play.
- Navy started to chip away at American's lead, going on a 5-0 run to pull within five, 62-57. The two sides battled back and forth until the Midshipmen pulled within a basket, 71-69, with 33 seconds left on the clock.
- Stephens drew a foul and made both his extra shots to secure the 73-69 victory for American.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Along with Rogers, sophomore Elijah Stephens and Smalls also reached double figures in points. Stephens scored 12 points while Smalls added 10.
- The Eagles shot 60.9 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 60 percent from the free throw line.
- American held the 22-15 assists advantage.
UP NEXT
- American returns to Bender Arena for two games at home. The Eagles welcome Bucknell on Wednesday, Feb. 1 for a 7 p.m. game, and Colgate on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 4 p.m.
TICKETS
- Season tickets, mini-plans and individual game tickets for home games in Bender Arena in premium seating locations are still at AUeagles.com/Tickets.
- AU students are admitted FREE with a valid undergraduate, graduate, or WCL ID.
- The February 4-Pack ticket mini plan on sale now. The mini-plan gets a sideline ticket to four games of your choice in February, starting at $30. Visit AUeagles.com/Tickets to purchase your tickets today.
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