Senior Jaxon Knotek, junior Lincoln Ball, and freshman Jermaine Ballisager Webb celebrate on the bench in American men's basketball's win over Colgate.
Scott Fields
60
Colgate Colg 17-8,11-1 Patriot
61
Winner American Americ 15-8,7-5 Patriot
Colgate Colg
17-8,11-1 Patriot
60
Final
61
American Americ
15-8,7-5 Patriot
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Colgate Colg 35 25 60
American Americ 31 30 61

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men's Basketball Defeats Colgate; Halts the Nation's Longest Conference Win Streak

WASHINGTON – Down by 12 in the second half, American University men's basketball (15-8, 7-5 PL) used an 18-0 run to take the lead over league-leading Colgate (17-8, 11-1 PL) in the final minutes of the game and never looked back, picking up the win to hand Colgate its first Patriot League loss in 26 games. Led by junior Colin Smalls with 17 points, the Eagles picked up their seventh league win of the season Saturday afternoon.
 
QUICK NOTABLES
  • The Eagles snapped Colgate's nation-leading 27-game conference win streak. It was Colgate's first Patriot League loss since Jan. 28, 2022.
  • American is the first team to beat Colgate with less than 70 points since Wisconsin in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.  
  • With the Eagles' win, American and Colgate split the regular season series. Both meeting this season were decided by a point.  
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • After Colgate won the tip, the two sides traded three-point baskets until the score stood 9-9. The Raiders broke the three-point shooting with a layup to take a 11-9 lead at the first media timeout of the game.
  • Junior Lorenzo Donadio stole the ball from the Raiders and took the ball down the court to even the score at 11-11, but Colgate responded with a 6-0 run to take a six-point lead.
  • Freshman Geoff Sprouse broke the Raiders' run with a three-pointer to pull American within three, 17-14.
  • Colgate pushed its lead out to 25-14 with just over five minutes to play in the half and then with just under three minutes to go, took a 31-22 lead.
  • Led by hot shooting from junior Colin Smalls, the Eagles were able to pull within four to put the score at 35-31 at the end of the first half.
  • Colgate came out strong in the second half and took a 53-39 lead with 11:48 left to play.
  • Sparked by a dunk from freshman Jermaine Ballisager Webb, the Eagles went on a 18-0 to take the lead 57-53.
  • Three extra shots from the Raiders pulled Colgate back within one, 57-56.
  • Sprouse drew a foul and headed to the line for two. He made both extra shots to keep American ahead by three.
  • Colgate once again pulled within one, 59-58. Smalls put in a jumper with 17 seconds left to push American's lead out to 61-58.
  • Colgate made one more attempt to get the last-minute win seconds left on the clock but the Eagles were able to hold on for the 61-60 win.


INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Along with Smalls' 17 points, sophomore Elijah Stephens also scored in double figures totaling 11 points and a team-leading four assists and three steals.
  • The Eagles shot 51 percent from the field, 46.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 83.3 percent from the charity stripe.
  • American held the 29-26 rebounding advantage and the 3-1 block advantage.
UP NEXT
  • American will travel to Boston U. on Wednesday, Feb. 8 for a 7 p.m. game against the Terriers.
  • The Eagles will then return to Bender Arena on Saturday, Feb. 11 for a 2 p.m. game against Holy Cross.
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