WASHINGTON – With 3.2 seconds remaining, graduate student
Matt Rogers sank a
fadeaway jumper to lift American University men's basketball to a 60-58 win over Lafayette (10-16, 5-8), securing the Eagles' ninth victory in their last 10 games. Rogers led AU (16-10, 10-3) with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double in another thriller at Bender Arena.
Notable Numbers
- It was the second double-double of the season for Rogers, who hit 9-for-12 from the field on his way to leading all players in both points and rebounds.
- Rogers hit his game-winner over the outstretched hands of Lafayette's Justin Vander Baan, who averages 3.1 blocks per game to lead all players in NCAA Division I.
- Sophomore Greg Jones and senior Elijah Stephens scored 11 points apiece, with Jones adding six boards and three steals.
- Clutch late free throws came from grad student Colin Smalls, who went 4-for-4 at the foul line and scored nine points.
- AU made good on its status as the Patriot League's best free-throw shooting team, connecting on 9-of-11 from the stripe, including 8-of-9 in the second half.
- The Eagles committed seven turnovers, tying their season low, and had a 12-2 edge in points off turnovers.
- American is now 9-1 at home, and 4-1 in games decided by three or fewer points. All four of those wins have come since January 22.
First Half
- The Eagles struck first and never trailed in the first half, leading by as many as 10 points on two occasions.
- AU went almost four minutes from 18 to 14 on the clock without scoring, but still remained in the lead thanks to a relentless effort on defense.
- Jones, who missed both games last week with a foot injury, showed how much he was missed by scoring seven early points on 3-of-3 shooting to help the Eagles take a 14-8 lead at the 12-minute mark.
- Five different players each hit a three-pointer for the Eagles in the half. Rogers drained the fifth of those for a 27-18 lead at 4:11.
- AU had its lead back up to nine on a layup from Lincoln Ball with 28 seconds left, but the Leopards hit a buzzer-beating triple to cut the Eagles' lead to six at the break, 32-26.
Second Half
- Lafayette quickly made it a one-point game in the second half with a 5-0 opening run.
- Smalls scored the Eagles' first points of the half nearly three minutes in, and both teams started 1-for-5 from the field.
- AU's largest lead in the half was six, the last time at 44-38 on a pair of Stephens free throws near the midway point of the half.
- From there, a 9-0 run gave the Leopards their first lead of the contest, and AU trailed 47-44 with 6:53 to go.
- Lafayette led by as many as four points, and still led by three at the three-minute mark.
- Jones hit a much-needed shot at 2:46 to get AU within a point, and Smalls sank a pair of free throws for a 54-53 lead at 2:11.
- The lead changed hands again before the game's third tie at 56-56 with 1:10 left.
- Rogers, who hit four of his final five attempts from the field, put the Eagles up 58-56 with 45 seconds left.
- After a Lafayette timeout, Alex Chaikin (16 points) made a layup at 23 seconds for the final tie of 58-58.
- The Eagles talked it over and got the ball in Rogers' hands once again. His jumper in the lane at 3.2 seconds gave the Leopards enough time for a final shot, but Caleb Williams' three-point attempt missed the mark.
Up Next
- The Eagles are back at home on Saturday, Feb. 15, hosting Loyola Maryland at 4 p.m. after a women's game against the Greyhounds at 12:30 p.m. For tickets, click HERE.
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