WASHINGTON – The American University men's basketball team takes its two-game winning streak on the road as they play their first Patriot League away game of the season at Bucknell on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. This is the fifth away game for American in its last six contests.
 
Quick Info

• Date/Time: Saturday, January 6; 2:00 p.m.
• Site: Lewisburg, Pa. (Sojka Pavillion)
• Series History: Bucknell leads, 47-28
• TV: CBS Sports Network
• Talent: Jason Knapp and Mo Cassara

Inside the Series

• There are 75 games on record between American and Bucknell, with Bucknell leading 47-28.
• The Bison have won three out of the last five contests and boast a 27-8 record against the Eagles when playing at home.
• Bucknell won both regular season matchups during the 2022-23 season, but AU beat Bucknell in the first round of the Patriot League tournament.

What to Know About American

• American opened up Patriot League play with a 75-66 win at home against Lehigh on Jan. 3. Senior Lorenzo Donadio led the way with 17 points, six rebounds and four assists, as the Eagles improved to 5-1 at home this season.
• Senior Matt Rogers leads AU and ranks second in the Patriot League with 15.6 points per game, adding 6.5 rebounds per game (fourth in PL). He has recorded two double-doubles this season, and his field goal percentage of .527 ranks fourth in the PL.
• American's bench has provided a spark for the Eagles this season, outscoring the opponents' bench in 10 of AU's 14 games. AU's bench outscored Lehigh's by 14 points on Jan. 3, led by 12 points from sophomore Geoff Sprouse.
• Junior Elijah Stephens leads AU and ranks second in the PL with 5.4 assists per game. His assist/turnover ratio of 2.4 ranks second in the PL, and he has reached double-figures scoring in nine of AU's last 11 games. He recorded 15 points, eight assists and four rebounds against Lehigh.
• First-year head coach Duane Simpkins has seven career victories and has brought a new energy to the program. The Eagles run a faster offense and so far are averaging 8.4 more points per game than in 2022-23, as well as making 3.5 more 3-point field goals per game.

Scouting the Bison

• Bucknell enters Saturday's game with a 4-10 record after winning their first Patriot League game of the season, a 70-58 victory over Holy Cross.
• The Bison earned a marquee win on Dec. 2 when they defeated Penn State on the road, 76-67, after trailing by 10 points.
• Bucknell leads the PL and ranks 51st nationally in free-throw percentage, making 75.5 percent of their shots from the stripe.
• Senior Jack Forrest leads the team and ranks third in the PL with 15.2 points per game. He shoots 89.5 percent from the free throw line and makes 2.6 threes per game, both leading the PL. He also leads the PL playing 35.4 minutes per game.
• Noah Williamson adds 10.6 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game, while Elvin Edmonds IV scores 10 points per game, as well.
• John Griffin III, a 2008 Bucknell graduate, is in his first season as a collegiate head coach. In four years as a player and four years as an assistant at Bucknell, he helped lead the Bison to four NCAA Tournament appearances.

Keep Up With Us

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