WASHINGTON – In front of the largest crowd at Bender Arena in 14 years, American University men's basketball (12-3, 4-0 PL) held off the Boston University Terriers (9-8, 2-2 PL) on Sunday afternoon, 76-74, to move to 4-0 in Patriot League play. The Eagles shot 51 percent from the field to pick up their first win over the Terriers since 2020.
QUICK NOTABLES
- The Eagles remain one of just three undefeated teams in the Patriot League.
- Every Eagle that saw time on the court recorded at least two points in the game.
- With his 11 points Sunday afternoon, junior Matt Rogers has now scored in double figures in 10 straight games.
- The crowd totaled 2,679 for AU's "Elementary Day," marking the Eagles' largest attendance since getting 3,123 at their 2009 PL Championship game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Boston won the tip but American took possession right away to take a 7-4 lead heading into the first media timeout of the game.
- The Eagles' offense kept pouring on the points to put the score at, 27-12, with 4:55 left in the half.
- A 9-0 run by the Terriers with 2:31 left to play in the half put the score within six, 27-21.
- The Terriers continued to chip away at the Eagles' lead to close to gap to three, 32-29, heading into halftime.
- American opened up the second half with a 4-0 run but the run was immediately countered by a 6-0 run from the Terriers to even the score 35-35.
- The Eagles jumped back out to a nine-point lead with 10:41 left to play before the Terriers once again evened the score at 55-55 on a 7-0 run. They then took a 56-55 lead for their first lead of the game.
- A Terrier foul sent graduate student Connor Nelson to the line for two extra shots. He made both to put American back ahead 57-56 with 7:29 left to play.
- With nine seconds left in the game, two extra shots from sophomore Elijah Stephens gave American a four-point lead.
- The Terriers tried to even the game once more and force overtime, pulling within two points with four seconds left, but American was able to hang on for the 76-74 win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Led by junior Colin Smalls with 13 points, four Eagles recorded double figures in the win. The three other Eagles in double figures – junior Johnny O'Neil, junior Matt Rogers, and sophomore Elijah Stephens – all recorded 11 points.
- O'Neil led the Eagles in rebounds with nine and Stephens led the team in assists with five.
- American shot 51 percent the field.
UP NEXT
- American will be on the road for its next two games, traveling to Army West Point on Wednesday, Jan. 11 and Lehigh on Saturday, Jan. 14. Wednesday's game at Army is set for a 6 p.m. start.
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