WASHINGTON – The American University men's basketball team will begin their 2024 Patriot League campaign as they host Lehigh at Bender Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. The Eagles will look to build on the momentum of their 87-85 win at UMBC in their final nonconference game of the regular season.
 
Quick Info

• Date/Time: Wednesday, January 3; 7:00 p.m.
• Site: Washington, D.C. (Bender Arena)
• Series History: Lehigh leads, 33-27
• TV: ESPN+
• Talent: Dan Laing and Gordon Austin

Inside the Series

• There are 60 games on record between American and Lehigh, with Lehigh leading 33-27.
• The Mountain Hawks have won four out of the last five contests, but American boasts a 15-11 record against Lehigh in Washington, D.C. 
• Lehigh swept the two-game series during the 2022-23 season with 78-62 and 62-59 victories. 

What to Know About American

• American earned its second road win of the season on Dec. 29th with an 87-85 victory at UMBC. It was the second college basketball game this season involving a Division I team in which both teams made at least 15 three-pointers (AU made 15). The other game was American's 103-74 win against Hood College (AU made 19).
• Senior Matt Rogers leads AU and ranks third in the PL with 15.6 points per game, adding 6.4 rebounds per game. He has recorded two double-doubles this season, and his field goal percentage of .511 ranks fourth in the PL.
• In his first career start at Virginia Tech on Dec. 21, sophomore Jermaine Ballisager Webb recorded a career-high 15 points and six rebounds. Following that performance, Ballisager Webb came off the bench at UMBC and scored 17 points in just 15 minutes. His .672 field goal percentage leads AU and the PL.
• Junior Elijah Stephens leads AU and ranks second in the PL with 5.2 assists per game. His assist/turnover ratio of 2.4 leads the PL, and he was named Gregorio's Trattoria Student-Athlete of the Week after recording 16 points, five assists and four steals in AU's 87-85 win at UMBC.
• First-year head coach Duane Simpkins has six career victories and has brought a new energy to the program. The Eagles run a faster offense and so far are averaging 8.3 more points per game than in 2022-23, as well as making 3.5 more 3-point field goals per game.

What to Know About Lehigh

• Lehigh enters Wednesday's game with a 3-8 record after defeating Marist College 65-58 on Dec. 30. Their other two wins came against Oneonta (90-65, Nov. 16) and Cairn (88-33, Dec. 9).
• Lehigh enters Patriot League play having been picked to finish second in the conference. The Mountain Hawks received two first-place votes in the preseason poll.
• The Mountain Hawks lead the PL in points per game, with 74.0, and rebounds per game, with 37.8. 
• Keith Higgins Jr. (16.5 ppg, first in PL) and Tyler Whitney-Sidney (12.7 ppg, ninth in PL) lead the Mountain Hawks in scoring. The pair were voted to the Patriot League's preseason all-league team.
• Dominic Parolin adds 9.8 points per game for Lehigh and leads the team in rebounding with 5.6 per game, ranking ninth in the PL.
• Dr. Brett Reed is in his 17th season as head coach at Lehigh. Reed earned his 250th win last season and ranks second all-time in both total wins and Patriot League wins in conference history, sitting behind only Lafayette's Fran O'Hanlon.

Parking Information

• The Bender Arena parking garage is partially under construction. In the event you cannot find a parking space, additional parking is available in the School of International Service (SIS) or The Katzen Art Center Garage.

Keep Up With Us

• For the latest on American University Men's Basketball, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_MBasketball), Facebook (/AU.MBasketball) and Instagram (@au_mbasketball).