WASHINGTON – The American University men's basketball team takes the floor for the first time in almost two weeks with a road trip to Virginia Tech on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 5 p.m. It's the third of four consecutive road games for the Eagles leading into Patriot League play.
Quick Info:
- Date/Time: Thursday, December 21; 5 p.m.
- Site: Blacksburg, Va. (Cassell Coliseum)
- Series History: Virginia Tech leads, 4-2
- TV: ESPN+, ACC Network Extra
- Talent: Bailey Angle, Mack McCarthy, Kendal Williams
Inside the Series
- There are six games on record between American and Virginia Tech, with VT leading 4-2.
- Both of American's wins came in Washington, D.C., during the 1937-38 and 1946-47 seasons.
- The only time AU traveled to Blacksburg was on Nov. 29, 2002, when the Hokies won 69-61.
What to Know About American
- American earned its first road win of the season in its previous game, a 77-69 victory at VMI on Dec. 9. The Eagles were undefeated at home before having their streak snapped with a 75-73 loss to Saint Francis (Pa.) on Dec. 2.
- Senior Matt Rogers leads AU and ranks third in the PL with 15.8 points per game, adding 6.7 rebounds per game. He has recorded two double-doubles this season, and his field goal percentage of .508 leads AU and ranks third in the PL.
- Senior Lorenzo Donadio scored 13 first-half points in the Eagles' win at VMI. He is averaging 9.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, all career-high averages.
- On Nov. 26 against Hood College, AU scored its most points in a single game in 28 years, winning 103-74. AU made a program-record 19 three-pointers, with sophomore Geoff Sprouse hitting seven of those. Sprouse ranks fifth in the PL with 2.3 3-pt FG per game.
- First-year head coach Duane Simpkins has five career victories and has brought a new energy to the program. The Eagles run a faster offense and so far are averaging 8.8 more points per game than in 2022-23, as well as making 3.2 more 3-point field goals per game.
What to Know About Virginia Tech
- Virginia Tech comes into Wednesday's game with an 8-3 record.
- The Hokies have already earned a conference win, beating Louisville (75-68 on Dec. 3). Since then, the Hokies defeated Valparaiso (71-50 on Dec. 9) and Vermont (73-51 on Dec. 16).
- American will be Virginia Tech's first Patriot League opponent of the season. The Hokies defeated Lehigh in 2022, 78-52.
- The Hokies enter the game shooting 79.9% from the free throw line, which ranks sixth in the nation. Senior Lynn Kidd leads their scoring attack with 15.2 points per game, adding 7.6 rebounds per game, ranking eighth in the ACC.
- Junior Sean Pedulla scores 13 points per game along with 4.2 assists per game, ranking sixth in the ACC.
- Mike Young is in his fifth season as head coach. Young graduated from Emory & Henry College in 1986 after playing for the Wasps and was the head coach at Wofford for a record-setting 17 years prior to coaching at Virginia Tech.
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