AU Men's Basketball team huddles on the court in American's semifinal game against Lafayette.
Claire Leger
76
American Americ 17-15,7-11 Patriot
84
Winner Lafayette Laf 11-22,7-11 Patriot
American Americ
17-15,7-11 Patriot
76
Final
84
Lafayette Laf
11-22,7-11 Patriot
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 F
American Americ 17 42 7 10 76
Lafayette Laf 33 26 7 18 84

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men’s Basketball Drops Double OT Heartbreaker at Lafayette; Season Ends in Patriot League Semifinals

EASTON, Pa. – American University men's basketball (17-15, 7-11 PL) saw its season come to an end Sunday at the hands of Lafayette (11-22, 7-11 PL) in Kirby Sports Center, 84-76. The Eagles battled back from as much as a 21-point deficit to force overtime, but it was the Leopards' hot shooting from beyond the arc that gave them the extra push.
 
QUICK NOTABLES
  • Junior Johnny O'Neil finished his junior campaign with 96 career blocks and 51 this season.  
  • Junior Matt Rogers recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 24 points and 13 rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Lafayette won the tip and it was a defensive battle early before junior Lorenzo Donadio broke through first to give American the early 2-0 lead.
  • Lafayette evened the score and from there took a commanding lead, shooting 61.5 percent from beyond the arc, the rest of the half to take a 33-17 lead heading into halftime.
  • Rogers and O'Neil started off the second half with baskets for the Eagles to cut the deficit to 12. A foul by American then sent Lafayette to the line for two free shots to put the score at 35-21 in favor of the home team.
  • O'Neil then answered with a shot from beyond the arc to put the score at 35-24 with 16 minutes left in the game.
  • American battled back to take a 59-58 lead off a basket from Rogers and then an made extra shot from Lafayette evened the score with 19 second left to force overtime.
  • Rogers hit a shot from beyond the arc with just over three minutes to play in overtime to give American a 62-561 lead. Two made extra shots by the Leopards pulled them within one, 62-61.
  • Rogers followed up his basket with another two points with 1:26 left in the game to give American a. 64-61 lead before Lafayette evened the score 66-66 with a three-point basket with four seconds to go in overtime, forcing a second overtime.
  • Lafayette came out in the second overtime with a 10-0 run to secure the double-overtime semifinal win.  
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Along with Rogers, three other Eagles scored in double figures with sophomore Elijah Stephens totaling 15, senior Jaxon Knotek totaling 16, and O'Neil recording 14.
  • Sophomore Elijah Stephens posted a career-high six steals.
  • American held the 18-6 rebounding advantage. 
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