WASHINGTON – The final road game of the non-conference slate for American University men's basketball is set for Sunday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. against Virginia out of the ACC. It's the first meeting between the teams since 2006, and only the second since 1951. The Eagles will be back home after the holiday for their final non-league contest against UMBC on Dec. 29.
Quick Info
- Date/Time: Sunday, Dec. 22; 2 pm
- Site: Charlottesville, Va. (John Paul Jones Arena)
- Series History: Virginia leads, 5-1
- TV: ACC Network / ESPN+
- Talent: Doug Sherman, Theo Pinson
Inside the Series
- Virginia has a 5-1 lead in the all-time series, but there has been only one meeting in the modern era.
- The Cavaliers won 91-70 on their home court on Dec. 28, 2006 in the only "recent" meeting between the two programs.
- AU and UVA played five times between 1938 and 1951, with the Eagles winning only the last of those in the only game in D.C., 69-54 on Feb. 3, 1951.
What to Know About American
- The Eagles had a five-game win streak snapped at Saint Joseph's on Dec. 18, starting slow against the hot-shooting Hawks and never finding their footing in an 84-57 loss. American got 19 points each from grad student Matt Rogers and sophomore Greg Jones.
- American had two weeks off following its fifth win in the streak, an 81-71 overtime victory against another A-10 opponent, GW. Grad student Colin Smalls hit 5-of-9 from long range in that win on his way to a career-high 26 points, including a tying triple in the final seconds of regulation. The Eagles are 3-0 at home so far, but just 1-5 in true road games, not including a pair of neutral-site wins at the Puerto Rico Clasico.
- 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 leading AU with 14.6 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game. His FG percentage of .512 ranks seventh in the Patriot League. In a win over NDMU, Rogers led AU with 20 points and nine rebounds, hitting 9-for-9 from the floor.
- Of 13 non-conference games, only four are being played at home in Bender Arena for the Eagles. American played six straight games away from home before returning to beat Notre Dame of Maryland (DIII) 97-52 on Dec. 1 and GW 81-71 in OT on Dec. 4. The Eagles then faced back-to-back Atlantic 10 opponents in GW and St. Joseph's, and will now take on another challenge at ACC school Virginia on Dec. 22.
- The Eagles have had some strong individual successes at the free-throw line. Sophomore Greg Jones (third, .871), senior Elijah Stephens (fourth, .861) and grad student Colin Smalls (seventh, .838) all rank in the top 10 in the Patriot League in free-throw percentage.
- Second-year head coach Duane Simpkins has brought a new energy to the program. 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 finished in a tie for second place in the Patriot League despite being plagued by injuries for most of the conference season.
- 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.
What to Know About Virginia
- After the departure of national championship-winning head coach Tony Bennett in October, the Virginia Cavaliers have held serve through the early going this season, sporting a 6-5 record entering the matchup with American.
- Four of Virginia's five losses have come to ranked opponents, as well as a defeat at the hands of new ACC foe SMU. The Cavaliers also boast wins over Villanova as well as Holy Cross out of the PL.
- In their last outing, the Cavs were edged by No. 21 Memphis, 64-62 in Charlottesville.
- Ron Sanchez, who spent 10 years on Bennett's staff and also served as the head coach at Charlotte from 2018-23, stepped into the Interim Head Coach position following Bennett's departure.
- Junior guard Isaac McKneely is putting up a team-best 12.2 points per game so far this year. Junior forward Elijah Saunders adds 10.5 a contest.
- Meanwhile, freshman forward Jacob Cofie has made an immediate impact, scoring 8.5 a game while pulling down a team-best 6.1 rebounds per game.
- As a team, Virginia's trademark remains defense. Its 60.6 points allowed per game ranks second in the ACC.
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