WASHINGTON – The American University men's basketball team fought until the end but couldn't get past the Navy Midshipmen, losing by a final score of 71-65. The Eagles will now prepare to host a Patriot League Quarterfinal game Thursday, March 7th in Bender Arena with further details to be announced.
 
Notable Numbers

• Senior Matt Rogers and junior Elijah Stephens each eclipsed the 20-point mark individually with 23 points each.  
• Rogers also led the team with six rebounds. 
• Both teams turned in strong offensive performances, with Navy shooting 56 percent and American shooting 43 percent from the field. 
• Jordan Pennick and Austin Benigni led Navy with 16 points each. 

First Half

• Rogers secured the first points of the contest, driving inside and hitting a hook shot to get the Eagles on the board first. 
• Navy responded with an 8-0 run, hitting two quick threes in the process. American ate away at the deficit over the next six minutes, with an emphatic dunk from senior Lincoln Ball tying the game at 13 with a little over 11 minutes left in the half. 
• The Midshipmen shot a strong 52% for the first half compared to 44% for American. Despite being outshot, the Eagles never trailed by more than six in the half and a last second buzzer beater from Elijah Stpehens had the team only down two at the intermission, with Navy leading 32-30. 

Second Half

• More back-and-forth action ensued to kick off the second half. The Eagles broke away with a 9-0 run, including five points from Rogers, who already had 11 in the first half to give American its first lead since nine minutes into the first half with the score 39-37 just over three minutes in.  
• It was again Navy trying to control the pace. Early foul trouble for American sent the Midshipmen into the bonus only seven minutes into the half and amidst a poor shooting stretch for the Eagles, Navy retook a slim six-point advantage, leading 50-44 with 10:27 on the clock. 
• The Eagles again refused to quit, answering right back with a 6-0 run punctuated by a transition layup from Stephens to tie the game at 50 with 7:41 left in the game. 
• Spurred by a Stephens and-one and a Rogers' layup, American pushed the pace, but Navy had an answer and the game was still tied with 5:27 to play with the score 57 all. 
• American found themselves down four with 1:35 left in the game. Stephens drove inside and drew a shooting foul, knocking down both free throws to make the score 67-65 Navy with 1:22 left in the game. 
• Needing a big stop, Navy instead came up with a layup to go back up four. After not converting on its next possession, American was forced to foul. Navy hit both free throws, which proved enough to put the game out of reach and American fell 71-65.

UP NEXT
Having secured a first-round bye, American will host a Patriot League Quarterfinal game Thursday, March 7th in Bender Arena. Additional details are to be determined pending the completion of today's slate of Patriot League games. 
 
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