WASHINGTON – The home opener for the 2024-25 American University men's basketball team has the Eagles hosting Harvard at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10 in Bender Arena. The Eagles are looking to rebound from a season-opening loss at La Salle, while the Crimson are 1-1 after a season-opening win against Marist followed by a loss at Navy in the Veterans Classic.
Quick Info
- Date/Time: Sunday, November 10; 2 pm
- Site: Washington, D.C. (Bender Arena)
- Series History: American leads, 3-1
- TV: ESPN+
- Talent: Dan Laing, Gordon Austin
New Hospitality Offerings and Enhanced Fan Experience
- American is starting its season with 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 our concession 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.
Inside the Series
- Last year's 80-75 Harvard win over AU in Cambridge was the first meeting of the two teams since 1988.
- The Eagles lead the overall series 3-1, including a 76-72 win on Dec. 17, 1988, the last meeting of the two teams at AU.
What to Know About American
- The Eagles are coming off a season-opening loss at La Salle, 65-52. Senior Colin Smalls led AU with 10 points, while four other Eagles scored between seven and nine points.
- American returns 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.
- Second-year head coach Duane Simpkins has brought a new energy to the program. American's 10 conference wins 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 finished in a tie for second place in the Patriot League despite being plagued by injuries for most of the conference season.
- Grad student Matt Rogers, an All-Patriot League First Team honoree last year, was tabbed as the Patriot League's Preseason Player of the Year for 2024-25. He led AU and ranked third in the PL last year with 16.4 points per game, and fifth with 6.2 rebounds per game.
- Senior Elijah Stephens was named to the All-Patriot League Defensive Team and Second Team in his junior season, averaging 12.1 points per game and 4.9 assists despite battling injuries toward the end of the season. He currently ranks seventh all-time at AU with 352 assists.
- The Eagles' non-conference schedule is a challenging one, also including road games at UNC, High Point, Saint Joseph's, and Virginia as well as home games against GW and Harvard.
What to Know About Harvard
- The Harvard Crimson have entered the season looking to bounce back after a tough finish last year. Harvard lost four of its last five games, finishing 14-13 overall and 5-9 in the Ivy League, good for a fifth-place finish that just missed a spot in the conference's four-team tournament.
- Head coach Tommy Amaker, now in his 18th season, entered the year with a 468-318 career record, the most wins in the history of the Harvard program. Amaker's charges have made four NCAA Tournament appearances and won the first two NCAA games (2013 and 2014) in program history.
- The Crimson have seven first-year players on the roster. Harvard lost three athletes to the transfer portal in the offseason including Ivy League Rookie of the Year Malik Mack who scored 26 points against AU last season.
- Senior guard Louis Lesmond finished third in scoring last year with 9.8 points per game, the top mark among returners. Junior guard Chandler Pigge is back after sharing the team lead with 32 steals.
- Robert Hinton, a freshman guard, went 9-of-12 from the floor and 8-for-10 at the free throw line to net a game-high 27 points in the Crimson's 79-66 win over Marist to open the season.
- The Crimson beat Marist in their season opener before falling 85-80 to Navy at the Veterans Classic on Friday night.
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