WASHINGTON – Matt Rogers ignited a second-half surge that propelled American University men's basketball to a 68-58 comeback victory over Bucknell on Saturday in Bender Arena. Rogers' go-ahead basket at the six-minute mark highlighted a remarkable turnaround as the Eagles erased an 11-point halftime deficit, more than doubling their first-half scoring in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 2,528 on Elementary School Day.
 
Notable Numbers

• With his first bucket of the game, senior Elijah Stephens became the 35th member of the program's 1,000-point club. Stephens finished the game with seven points and now has 1,006 in his career. He led all players with six assists as well.
• Rogers scored 20 points for a second game in a row and for the fifth time this season, hitting 8-of-10 from the field including 2-of-3 three-pointers. 
• Picking up his fourth foul with nearly 13 minutes to go, Rogers avoided a fifth and scored seven of his points after that foul call. He also led all players in the game with four steals
• Sophomore Greg Jones hit 7-of-8 free throws, holding off the Bison in the final stretch and finishing with 14 points.
• Freshman Wyatt Nausadis came off the bench for eight points to tie his season high, draining 2-of-3 long-range attempts.
• Also tying his season-high of eight points was Lincoln Ball, who hit 4-of-5 shots. Ball also grabbed five boards, posted one steal, and one block.
• The Eagles shot 52 percent from the field in the second half while holding Bucknell to 33 percent shooting overall and 0-of-6 from beyond the arc.
• Though committing a high number of turnovers themselves (14), the Eagles forced 17 on the Bison and finished the game with a 28-15 advantage in points off turnovers.

First Half

• The shots didn't fall for the Eagles early on, forcing them to play from behind for the entire half.
• Bucknell hit 4-of-5 to start and had a 9-2 lead before the Eagles got a second bucket.
• Rogers was the only player to score for AU through the first eight and a half minutes, but the Bison cooled off as well and the Eagles only trailed by four after Nausadis scored the first non-Rogers bucket at 11:28.
• Bucknell asserted its size on the offensive glass during a 9-2 run that gave the Bison their first 11-point lead, 21-10 at 6:43.
• The bucket that gave Stephens his 1,000th point was followed by a Rogers make that narrowed the margin to six, 23-17, and a three-pointer from Rogers later made it a five-point game at 2:11.
• AU went scoreless the rest of the way as Bucknell closed on a 6-0 run for a 33-22 lead at halftime
• Rogers had 11 points at the break, but also collected three fouls in the opening period.
• Bucknell out-rebounded American 21-14 in the half, leading to a 9-0 advantage in second-chance points.

Second Half

• American chipped away from the get-go in the second half, quickly cutting its deficit to single digits and getting within five points at the 13:27 mark on a pair of free throws for Colin Smalls.
• After a layup for Ball at 11:49 once again put the Eagles within five, Smalls was fouled on a three-pointer and hit all three attempts to make it a two-point game.
• Freshman Eric Michaels completed a 7-0 run with a bucket at 10:43, tying the game for the first time at 42-42.
• Bucknell continued to take small leads over the next four minutes, but AU stayed within five.
• Another 7-0 run for the Eagles capped by steal and layup for Rogers at 5:49 gave AU its first lead, 54-52.
• American trailed only once more at the two-minute mark before Rogers once again put his team back on top, and this time for good.
• The bucket by Noah Williamson that gave Bucknell a 58-57 lead proved to be the final points for the Bison, who went cold as AU closed on an 11-0 run.
• Jones was the hero of the closing stretch, hitting a three-pointer for a 62-58 lead and then making 5-of-6 from the line in the final 40 seconds.

Up Next

• The Eagles have a quick turnaround before their next game at Loyola Maryland on Monday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m.

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).