WASHINGTON – The American University men's basketball team will look to build on its 19-point victory against Holy Cross as it prepares to host Colgate on Saturday, January 27, for All-Alumni Day. In celebration of the 10-year anniversary of its Patriot League championship, members of the 2014 men's basketball team will be recognized at halftime.
Colgate and American currently rank second and third in the Patriot League as each chases Lafayette for the top spot in the conference.
Quick Info
- Date/Time: Saturday, January 27; 4:00 p.m.
- Site: Washington, D.C. (Bender Arena)
- Series History: American leads 32-17
- TV: ESPN+
- Talent: Dan Laing and Gordon Austin
Inside the Series
- There are 49 games on record between American and Colgate, with American leading 32-17.
- The Raiders have won four out of the last five contests, but the Eagles boast an 18-7 record at Bender Arena.
- Both games during the 2022-23 season were decided by just one point, with each team winning their home contest.
What to Know About American
- In its last game, American cruised past Holy Cross at Bender Arena, 84-65. Junior Elijah Stephens led the way with 19 points and 6 assists, while freshman Matt Mayock added 16 points. For the ninth time this season, AU made 10 three-pointers. AU also recorded a season-high 14 steals, behind 5 from Stephens and 4 from senior Lincoln Ball.
- Senior Matt Rogers leads AU and ranks fifth in the Patriot League with 14.8 points per game, adding 6.4 rebounds per game (fifth in PL). Rogers recently became the 34th player in program history to record 1,000 points, and he is 4 rebounds away from grabbing the 500th of his career.
- American leads the Patriot League in several offensive statistical categories: points per game (73.5), field goal percentage (46.4), 3-point field goal percentage (36.4), 3-pointers per game (9.6), assists per game (15.2) and assist/turnover ratio (1.35).
- Stephens leads AU and ranks second in the Patriot League with 5.3 assists per game (35th nationally). His assist/turnover ratio of 2.4 also ranks second in the League, and his 12.7 points per game rank eighth in the League. Stephens now ranks eighth all-time at AU with 317 career assists.
- First-year head coach Duane Simpkins has 11 career victories and has brought a new energy to the program. The Eagles run a faster offense and so far are averaging 8.1 more points per game than in 2022-23, as well as making 3.2 more 3-point field goals per game.
Scouting the Raiders
- Colgate enters Saturday's game with a 12-8 record, having won four of the last five Patriot League championships.
- In its last game, Colgate picked up a win at home against Lehigh, 60-57, to improve to 6-1 in the PL this season. The Raiders' only Patriot League loss of the season came against Lafayette, 69-64.
- Sophomore Braeden Smith leads the Raiders with 13.3 points per game, adding 5.9 rebounds. Smith also leads Colgate and the Patriot League with 5.6 assists per game.
- Fifth-years Ryan Moffatt and Keegan Records add 10.9 and 9.3 points per game, respectively. Moffat is a 42.3 percent three-point shooter over his career.
- Records was names Patriot League Preseason Player and Defensive Player of the Year. He has the best career field goal percentage in Patriot League history (62.4). He adds 7.0 rebounds per game.
- Matt Langel is in his 13th season as head coach at Colgate. He is the winningest coach in program history and the only coach in conference history to win Patriot League Coach of the Year four times.
Pack Bender Arena
- Students are encouraged to attend Saturday's game. There will be free pizza for all AU students in attendance, and admission is free with a Student ID.
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