Duane Simpkins, first-year head men's basketball coach, walking off the court after his first win with the Eagles on Nov. 13, 2023
Mitchell Layton
58
Siena Siena 1-2,0-0 MAAC
78
Winner American Americ 1-2,0-0 Patriot
Siena Siena
1-2,0-0 MAAC
58
Final
78
American Americ
1-2,0-0 Patriot
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Siena Siena 27 31 58
American Americ 35 43 78

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men's Basketball Gives Duane Simpkins his First Career Victory, 78-58 over Siena in the Home Opener

WASHINGTON – In a runaway victory, the American University men's basketball team picked up its first win of the season, 78-58 over visiting Siena in the Eagles' home opener. It was the first career victory for Duane Simpkins as a head coach, adding to the celebratory feeling after the final buzzer.
 
Notable Numbers
  • Senior Matt Rogers led the Eagles in scoring with 19 points while also grabbing four rebounds and a career-high four steals. Rogers was perfect from the charity stripe, hitting 4-for-4.
  • Sophomore Geoff Sprouse and freshman Matt Mayock were the other two Eagles to score in double figures with 16 and 10 points, respectively. Sprouse caught fire from long range in the second half, and finished the game hitting 4-of-8.
  • Senior Lorenzo Donadio dished a career-high five assists, pairing them with three steals and scoring six points. 
  • The assists leader for the Eagles was junior Elijah Stephens with seven, just one shy of his career high. Stephens also scored seven points and posted two steals.
First Half
  • Freshman Greg Jones led a strong defensive effort by the Eagles with a block from behind early in the first half that was followed by a defensive rebound from Stephens, who quickly found Ballisager Webb below the hoop.
  • Ballisager Webb was fouled and hit the extra shot to bring AU within three points after the Eagles had trailed by six.
  • Sprouse tied the game for the first time at 15-15 when he hit a corner three—his first of four in the contest.
  • With 10 minutes left in the half, Rogers stole the ball and created an opportunity for Sprouse to drive to the basket for American's first lead of the game, 19-17.
  • Rogers closed out the half with a hook shot in the paint, sending AU into the locker room up by eight points, 35-27. 
Second Half
  • Rogers had a quick start to the second half with a steal followed by a turnaround jumper to add to the growing American lead.
  • The Eagles tied their largest lead of the game twice in the second half, both times on free throws that put AU up by 23 points.
  • Fueling the second-half run was 63.6 percent shooting from behind the three-point line that helped the Eagles run away with the game.
  • The American defensive effort held strong, keeping Siena scoreless for almost three minutes in the closing stretch.


Up Next
  • The Eagles remain at home to play NJIT in Bender Arena on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.
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