WASHINGTON – After six games away from home, the last three being wins, the American University men's basketball team returns to Bender Arena on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. to host Notre Dame of Maryland University. It's the first meeting between the teams, as the Gators began their program just a year ago.
Quick Info
- Date/Time: Sunday, December 1; 4 pm
- Site: Washington, D.C. (Bender Arena)
- Series History: First meeting
- TV: ESPN+
- Talent: Dan Laing, Gordon Austin
New Hospitality Offerings and Enhanced Fan Experience
- American is offering a new hospitality area for all fans, as well as revamped premium courtside seating as part of an upgrade to the fan experience in Bender Arena on game days.
- The Perch is a new game day hospitality area offering beer, wine and seltzers for purchase.
- In addition to the concessions menu from Gregorio's Trattoria, fans can now enjoy select beverages and snacks just steps from the baseline in Bender Arena. Fans must be 21+ years old to enter.
- Additionally, Bender Arena's courtside seats have been moved closer to the action, with additional seating now available in the end zone baseline area for fans to experience all the action - up close and personal.
Blackout Coming December 4
- The first 500 students in attendance at AU's December 4 game against GW at 7 p.m. will receive a free Black-Out t-shirt, courtesy of official game sponsor DC Trails.
- All fans are encouraged to wear black as the Eagles debut a new uniform for the Black-Out game against their local rival.
Inside the Series
- This is the first-ever meeting between AU and Notre Dame of Maryland.
What to Know About American
- American is back home after six straight games away, but had a successful trip before Thanksgiving in taking the team title at the Puerto Rico Clasico with a 3-0 mark against Kansas City, Puerto Rico at Bayamón, and UAlbany.
- Of 13 non-conference games, only four will be played at home in Bender Arena.
- Senior point guard Elijah Stephens is the reigning Patriot League Player of the Week after averaging 18.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in the Eagles 3-1 week at High Point and in Puerto Rico. Stephens shot 70 percent from the floor, and hit 21-of-26 free throws, the third-most in NCAA Division I last week. Stephens currently leads AU with 13.4 points per game overall and is shooting 53 percent for the season.
- Grad student Matt Rogers, an All-PL First Team honoree last year, was tabbed as the Patriot League's Preseason Player of the Year for 2024-25. Rogers is averaging 13.0 points per game, and exploded for 26 points in the Eagles' loss at Siena, hitting 11-of-22 field goals including 3-of-4 three-pointers.
- American returned seven of its nine leading scorers from last season, and all three of its leading rebounders. Last year, the Eagles set a program record with 279 three-pointers made, and hosted a Patriot League quarterfinal game for the first time since 2020.
- American's 10 conference wins in 2023-24 were the most since 2020 (12), and just the second time since 2014 that the Eagles reached double-digit wins in the Patriot League.
- The Eagles got their first win in front of 3,319 fans in Bender Arena on Nov. 10, including former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama who sat in the Harvard section. Colin Smalls scored 16 points and Geoff Sprouse added 15 to lead AU in the 67-55 victory.
What to Know About Notre Dame of Maryland
- The Gators are in just year two of having a men's basketball program and are off to a 2-3 start after going 3-19 in their first season.
- Notre Dame of Maryland competes in the United East Conference, and is 1-0 after an 80-76 victory at Wilson College on Nov. 26. Four Gators reached double figures in scoring in that win, led by K'Won Johnson with 23 points and eight rebounds, along with Ahman Harrison who scored 21 points and also grabbed eight boards.
- Johnson and Anthony Wright lead NDMU with 14.6 points per game this season, while Harrison has averaged 11.4 points per game and a team-high 5.8 rebounds per game.
- Three-point shooting is not a strength of the Gators, and no one on the team has made more than six treys so far. As a team, they average just four made three-pointers per game and shoot just 26.7 percent from long range.
- American is the second and final Division I team NDMU will face this season. The Gators lost 98-62 to Mount St. Mary's in their season opener on Nov. 4.
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