WASHINGTON – The American University men's basketball team opened up its Patriot League campaign with a 75-66 victory against Lehigh. It is the first conference win for first-year head coach Duane Simpkins. The Eagles shot over 55 percent from the field, including 41.7 percent from the three-point line, leading the game for over 28 minutes in total.
 
Notable Numbers

• For the second game in a row, four Eagles had double-figures scoring (Donadio, Rogers, Stephens, Sprouse).
• Senior Lorenzo Donadio led the way for the Eagles, with 17 points, six rebounds and four assists, including making 3-of-4 shots from beyond the arc.
• Senior Matt Rogers had another strong game for American, posting 16 points and seven rebounds in just under 27 minutes.
• American outscored Lehigh in bench scoring, 17-3, led by 12 points from sophomore Geoff Sprouse.
• Lehigh led by two points with 12:38 left in the game, but a three-pointer from Sprouse gave AU the lead, and the Eagles never looked back.

First Half

• Lorenzo Donadio got off to a hot start, scoring 10 of American's first 16 points. The Eagles led 16-8 at the 15:09 mark in the half.
• Lehigh responded to a fast start for AU with a 15-2 run. Tyler Whitney-Sidney had 17 early points for the Mountain Hawks, as American trailed 26-23 with 8:52 left in the half.
• Lehigh cooled off on the offensive end of the court, capitalized by the Eagles forcing a shot clock violation, with the game tied at 32 with under four minutes to go in the half.
• Matt Rogers scored on a post move to give the Eagles a 34-32 lead with under three minutes to play in the half.
• American made 64 percent of its shots from the field, including over 46 percent from beyond the arc, in the first half. The Eagles led 39-36 at halftime.

Second Half

• The Eagles got off to another quick start, thanks to two baskets from Elijah Stephens, giving AU a 43-36 lead at the 17:50 mark.
• After a Lehigh run, Geoff Sprouse knocked down a three-point shot to give American a 48-47 lead at the 12-minute mark.
• On the following offensive possession, Sprouse made another three, and AU led 51-47 with 11:49 to play.
• Matt Rogers drew a foul and knocked down both free throws to give AU a 10-point lead, its largest of the game at that point, at the 9:06 mark.
• With Lehigh poised to make a comeback, Lorenzo Donadio made a three-pointer, followed by an Elijah Stephens three, to give AU a 65-58 lead with 3:35 left to play
• Elijah Stephens found Matt Rogers on a fast break for a slam dunk to force a Lehigh timeout, as the Eagles led 67-58 with 3:03 to go.
• Matt Mayock knocked down a pair of free throws with 42 seconds to play to give American a 10-point lead and secure the game for the Eagles.

Up Next

• American will travel to Bucknell for a conference matchup in Lewisburg, Pa., on January 6 at 2 p.m.

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).