WASHINGTON – Seventh-seeded American University men's basketball (15-14, 7-11 PL) welcomes the 10th-seeded Bucknell University Bison (12-19, 5-13 PL) on Tuesday, Feb. 28 for a Patriot League Tournament First Round matchup. The Bison swept the regular season series between the two teams and have a 3-0 postseason record against the Eagles. The Eagles are looking to head back to the Patriot League Tournament Quarterfinals for the second-straight season.
QUICK INFO
- Date/Time: Tuesday, Feb. 28; 7:00 PM
- Site: Washington, D.C. (Bender Arena)
- Series History: Bucknell leads, 46-28
- TV: ESPN+
- Talent: Dan Laing and Gordon Austin
INSIDE THE SERIES
- Bucknell leads the all-time series 46-28, leading the series in both D.C. and Lewisburg.
- The Eagles' last win over the Bison in Bender was Jan. 16, 2022. American won by a 63-55 final.
- The last meeting between the two teams was Feb. 13, 2023 in Lewisburg, Pa. The Bison swept the regular season series this season, winning the meeting in Lewisburg, 73-55, and the meeting in D.C., 78-71 earlier in February.
- American and Bucknell have matched up three other times in the Patriot League Tournament. The last meeting between the two teams in the tournament was in the quarterfinals on March 5, 2020 in Bender Arena. The Bison won the meeting 64-59 to advance in the tournament. The Bison have also won the other two postseason meetings.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AMERICAN
- American enters the first round of the Patriot League Tournament with a 7-11 mark in league play. The Eagles enter the tournament as the No. 7 seed after ending the regular season in a four-way tie with Lafayette, Loyola Maryland and Holy Cross.
- American closed out the regular season with an 83-77 overtime loss to Loyola Maryland. Junior Matt Rogers led American with a season-high 24 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, while junior Johnny O'Neil, sophomore Elijah Stephens and junior Colin Smalls also scored in double figures.
- Rogers leads American in scoring, averaging 13.7 points per game. O'Neil leads the Eagles in rebounds, averaging 6.4 per game, and blocks, averaging 1.6 per game.
- O'Neil and Rogers received Patriot League postseason honors on Monday. Rogers was named to the league's second team and O'Neil was selected to the league's All-Defensive Team.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BUCKNELL
- Bucknell enters Tuesday's first round game with a 5-13 mark in Patriot League regular season action. The Bison closed out their regular season slate with a 75-65 win over Lafayette. A trio of Bison scored a team-leading 16 points in the win while senior Alex Timmerman led the team in rebounds with 10.
- Timmerman, one of the Bisons' three players to score in double figures on Saturday, has now recorded 10 rebounds or more in his last four games. He is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.5 points per game, behind Xander Rice's 14.0 points per game.
- Timmerman also leads the Bison in rebounds, averaging 7.2 per game, while Rice leads in assists with 3.7 per game and steals with 1.0 per game.
- Rice was named to the All-Patriot League Third Team on Monday, marking his first postseason award in his career.
MEN'S BASKETBALL PATRIOT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND TICKET INFORMATION
- Click here to purchase tickets to Tuesday's game.
- Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for youth (13 and below) and Seniors. All ticket prices are set by the Patriot League.
- AU students will be admitted free with a valid AU ID.
- Bucknell fans wishing to sit in Sections 116/117/118 behind their team bench are encouraged to purchase tickets through the Bucknell Athletics Ticket Office.
KEEP UP WITH US
