WASHINGTON – American University men's basketball (16-14, 7-11 PL) used a strong first half to hold on and hand the Bucknell Bison (12-20, 5-13) a loss in the First Round of the Patriot League Tournament Tuesday in Bender Arena, 64-59. Led by junior
Johnny O'Neil with a game-high 19 points and a double double from junior
Matt Rogers, American advanced to play Navy in the Patriot League Tournament Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2.
QUICK NOTABLES
- Rogers recorded his second-straight double double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. The double double was his fourth of the season.
- O'Neil recorded a game-leading four blocks on Tuesday. He now has 46 blocks this season and has moved into fourth all-time on American's record book for single season blocks. His career block total is now at 87, putting him five blocks away from moving into ninth all-time in American's record book for career blocks.
- American advances to the Patriot League Tournament Quarterfinals for the second consecutive season. Last season, they also took on Navy in Annapolis in the tournament quarterfinals.
- The Eagles' win marks the first postseason win over the Bison in program history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Bucknell won the tip and American went up 2-0 off a basket from Rogers, before the Bison jumped out to a 6-4 lead. Baskets from junior Lorenzo Donadio and Rogers then put American back in the lead 8-6 heading into the first media timeout of the game.
- The two teams kept the score close until with just under seven minutes to play in the first half, American jumped out to a 23-14 lead.
- Bucknell started to chip away at the Eagles' lead, pulling within six, but a three-point basket from Donadio extended the Eagles' lead and put them up 34-29 at the half.
- Rogers came out of halftime for American and made a layup to extend the Eagles' lead, 36-29.
- The two sides traded baskets, once again keeping the score close, until sophomore Elijah Stephens drew an and one putting American ahead by seven. Freshman Jermaine Ballisager Webb then drew a foul, making both of his extra shots, to put American ahead 45-36.
- Bucknell put in back-to-back baskets to pull within five of American, 45-40, with 10:39 left on the clock. The Bison then pulled within a basket of the Eagles, 54-52, with just over four minutes to play.
- The Bison continued to keep the score close until a basket from Stephens put American ahead by four, 58-54.
- The visitors once again pulled within one off three extra shots with 1:50 left on the clock, but American outscored its opponent 6-2 in the final minutes to secure the Tuesday night First Round victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Stephens, Rogers, and Donadio all scored in double figures Tuesday night with Stephens totaling 18 points, Rogers recording 14 points, and Donadio totaling 10 points.
- The Eagles shot 75 percent from the charity stripe and 50 percent from the field.
- American held the 32-21 rebounding advantage and the 6-1 block advantage.
UP NEXT
- American will travel to Annapolis, Md. on Thursday, March 2 for a Patriot League Tournament Quarterfinal matchup against No. 2 Navy. Tip is set for 7 p.m.
MEN'S BASKETBALL PATRIOT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL ROUND TICKET INFORMATION
- Tickets can be purchased here through the Navy Ticket Office.
- Tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for AU students, youth (13 and below) and Seniors. All ticket prices are set by the Patriot League.
- AU fans, alumni and students wishing to sit with Eagles fans in the AU seating block should purchase their tickets by calling the AU Athletics Ticket Office by 4 pm on Wed. March 1.
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