WASHINGTON - Back-to-back home games will mark the start of the second half of Patriot League play for American University men's basketball, as the Eagles welcome Lafayette on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. The game will honor the NABC's Coaches vs. Cancer initiative as well as AU's Pop Cassell Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Quick Info
- Date/Time: Saturday, January 31; 2 pm
- Site: Washington, D.C. (Bender Arena)
- Series History: American leads, 43-32
- TV: ESPN+
- Talent: Dan Laing, Gordon Austin
Coaches vs. Cancer
- American is participating in the American Cancer Society and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) "Coaches vs. Cancer - Suits And Sneakers Week."
- This is a nationwide event when basketball coaches across the country unite for a common cause – "ending cancer as we know it, for everyone."
- A priority of the week is to promote regular cancer screening, and with the help of coaches players and fans, "they help fuel research and support for patients and families across the country."
- American's players will each be displaying "I Play For…." posters during the national anthem pregame.
- More information can be found at the link: coachesvscancer.org.
Hall of Fame Class of 2026
- Following Saturday's game, four AU Athletics standouts will be honored with induction into the Stafford H. "Pop" Cassell Hall of Fame in a sold-out event at the Alan and Amy Meltzer Center for Athletic Performance.
- Jack Cassell, a former men's soccer student-athlete and Chairman Emeritus of the AU Board of Trustees, and Alan Meltzer, a former wrestler and passionate supporter of the student-athlete experience, will be inducted as lifetime contributors.
- They are joined by Shelly Montgomery, a two-time Patriot League champion and All-American in field hockey, and Wilbert "Wil" Smith, a 1971 track and field champion whose sprint records stood for five decades.
- The four inductees will be honored at halftime of the basketball game, as will all past Hall of Fame inductees in attendance.
Parking Information
- Parking on campus is $10 per contest for games held after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends, available through the PayByPhone app in any garage using code (211950).
- Standard hourly garage rates apply from 8 am-10 pm in the Katzen Arts Center and School of International Service garages.
Bender Bites and The Perch
- The Perch has returned for a second year, offering a special section behind the north basket where fans ages 21 and over can purchase beer, wine and seltzers.
- New this season to the concessions area is Bender Bites, in partnership with AU Kitchen. The menu is expanded from past offerings, and there will be multiple areas for purchasing food, snacks and drinks around the arena.
Series History
- This will be the 76th meeting between American and Lafayette, with AU leading 43-32.
- AU has won four of the last six, including both in the regular season last year and a third in the PL Tournament quarterfinals.
- American got a road win on Jan. 29, 75-68, after Matt Rogers scored 21 points to lead four Eagles in double digits. AU trailed by seven with 5:46 to play, but closed out the game going 12-of-12 at the free-throw line to secure the comeback victory.
- Rogers was the hero in the 60-58 home win on Feb. 10, hitting a jumper with 3.2 seconds left to cap a 19-point effort.
- Down 11 at halftime in the PL quarterfinals last season, AU stormed back for a 71-69 win. Greg Jones led the Eagles with 17 points, hitting 3-of-4 from long range while posting five rebounds.
What to Know About American
- The Eagles had a four-game win streak snapped this week in a 77-68 loss at Loyola Md after beating the Greyhounds by 15 a month prior.
- AU and Lafayette are meeting for the first time this season, despite the Eagles having played three other PL teams twice already.
- American did not trail in its first two games of the streak, trailed by only five against Colgate, and led for over 38 minutes at Holy Cross.
- AU's streak began by taking down first-place Navy, 65-51, behind a career-high 23 points from Greg Jones, and holding the Mids to 22.5 points below their season average.
- The Eagles 10-2 in Bender Arena this season.
- Seven players—Wyatt Nausadis, Madden Collins, Kade Sebastian, Greg Jones, Julen Iturbe, Geoff Sprouse, and Dean Hogans—have been leading scorers for AU so far this season.
- Collins leads AU with 13.4 points per game, with Jones close behind at 12.5 points per game.
- As a team, AU leads the PL in turnover margin (2.18), and steals (8.09 per game). The Eagles rank second in scoring (76.0 ppg), scoring margin (4.1 ppg), and free-throw percentage (.761). Their FT percentage is also good enough for 55th in NCAA Division I.
- Sophomore Wyatt Nausadis ranks third in 3-point FG pct at .413.
What to Know About Lafayette
- After a challenging non-conference schedule that saw the Leopards go 3-10, Lafayette sits 3-6 in the Patriot League after an 81-79 win over Bucknell at home on Wednesday night.
- The Leopards had lost five of six prior to the win over the Bison, with the only win coming against Holy Cross at home on Jan. 17.
- Lafayette has just one win away from home thus far this year, a 79-64 win at Loyola on Jan. 3.
- Sophomore guard Caleb Williams leads the Leopards with 16.9 points per game. He adds 3.2 assists, second on the team behind junior guard Mark Butler (4.1).
- Freshman forward Christian Humphrey-Rembert pulls down 6.4 rebounds a game to lead the team.
- Mike McGarvey is now in his third full season as the head coach at after being named acting head coach during the 2022-23 season. That year, he brought Lafayette to the Patriot League title game.
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