WASHINGTON - It's a day for youths and families all around the DMV as American University men's basketball hosts its annual Elementary Day Game at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10 against Holy Cross. The Eagles return home after two games away, back to Bender Arena where they are 8-1 so far this season. Kids can stick around after the game to get autographs from the team.
Quick Info
- Date/Time: Saturday, January 10; 4 pm
- Site: Washington, D.C. (Bender Arena)
- Series History: American leads, 30-24
- TV: ESPN+
- Talent: Dan Laing, Gordon Austin
Eagles Club Lounge
- Matt Rogers, BSBA '24, MBA '25, Athletics Alumni Coordinator, walks fans through how to access the new Eagles Club Lounge here.
- The Eagles Club is located on the third floor on the west side of Bender Arena.
- Donors may enter either through Bender Arena or via the front entrance of the Sports Center Annex, which is located behind Bender Arena, adjacent to the new Meltzer Center for Athletic Performance.
- The Eagles Club Lounge is a premium hospitality space that elevates the game-day experience for American Athletics donors.
- With modern branding, bar and table seating, multiple large-screen TVs, and an integrated sound system, all overlooking Bender Arena, the Eagles Club is designed to be a lively gathering place on game day.
- The Club opens one hour before each home basketball game and features fully catered hospitality and beverages.
- We are so excited to open this new space for Athletics Donors! Learn more and join the Eagles Club here!
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 is the 55th meeting between American and Holy Cross, with American leading the series, 30-24.
- AU has won four of the last six contests, sweeping the Crusaders home and away last year. The Eagles have won five games in a row at the Hart Center Arena, where they'll play on Jan. 24.
- The last time Holy Cross beat AU in Worcester was Feb. 2018. The Eagles have an 18-10 lead in home games against the Crusaders.
What to Know About American
- The Eagles suffered their first PL setback earlier this week at Colgate, letting an 11-point lead slip away as a scoreless last few minutes allowed the Raiders to close on a 9-0 run for a 64-62 win.
- American rolled to an 84-69 win in its PL opener against Loyola Maryland, and then broke through for its first road win of the season in a 64-62 decision at Boston University.
- At home in Bender Arena, the Eagles are 8-1 so far this season, suffering only a four-point loss to Siena on Nov. 29.
- The Eagles swept Holy Cross in two meetings last year and have won four of the last six against the Crusaders.
- Seven players—Wyatt Nausadis, Madden Collins, Kade Sebastian, Greg Jones, Julen Iturbe, Geoff Sprouse, and Dean Hogans—have been leading scorers so far this season.
- AU currently has six players averaging 8.4 ppg or more, which no other AU team in the past 25 years can boast.
- As a team, AU leads the Patriot League in scoring offense (77.6 ppg), turnover margin (2.75), and steals (8.63 pg). The Eagles rank second in scoring margin (4.5 ppg) and three-point percentage (.357).
- American is forcing an average of 14.1 turnovers per game while committing just 11.3 per game. The Eagles' turnover margin of 2.75 leads the PL by more than two turnovers per game, and ranks 54th in NCAA Division I.
What to Know About Holy Cross
- Holy Cross visits AU on Saturday looking to snap a two-game skid that has left the Crusaders 1-2 in Patriot League play so far.
- The Crusaders, whose win at home against Bucknell on New Year's Eve is their only victory since Dec. 9, are just 1-7 in road games so far this year, with the win coming at Fordham on Dec. 6.
- Only Bucknell is scoring fewer points per game than Holy Cross among Patriot League teams this year. The Crusaders average just 65.1 a game, but their 71.4 points per game allowed is second-best in the conference.
- Sophomore guard Tyler Boston leads the team with 13.1 points per game. His 3.0 assists per game also lead the Crusaders.
- Dave Paulsen is in his third season as the head coach at Holy Cross and 30th season as a collegiate head coach. While at Bucknell from 2008-15, he was twice named the Patriot League Coach of the Year (2011 and 2012).
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