WASHINGTON - After a pair of games away from home, the American University men's basketball team returns home to host Army West Point at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14. The Eagles are looking for a season sweep of Army after a 78-67 road win last month.

Quick Info

• Date/Time: Saturday, February 14; 2 pm
• Site: Washington, D.C. (Bender Arena)
• Series History: American leads, 37-18
• TV: ESPN+
• Talent: Dan Laing, Gordon Austin

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 is 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 56th meeting between American and Army, with the Eagles leading 37-18 after winning four of the last five.
• Sophomore Julen Iturbe scored a career-high 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field to lead the Eagles to a road win against the Black Knights earlier this season on January 18.
• Last season, the Eagles lost on the road but won at home.
• AU swept the season series in head coach Duane Simpkins' first season in 2023-24, winning 79-60 at home before using a big second half to win 73-51 at Army on Feb. 28.  
• The Eagles are 21-6 all-time at home against the Black Knights and have won six in a row in Bender Arena.

What to Know About American

• The Eagles are on a five-game skid since the end of January after previously winning four straight, and it's the longest string of losses in the Duane Simpkins era. Two of the four losses were on buzzer-beating shots by their opponents.
• AU is the only Patriot League team to beat Navy this season, winning 65-51 behind a career-high 23 points from Greg Jones. The Eagles held the Mids to 22.5 points below their season average. 
• In both of AU's recent home games, the Eagles lost at the buzzer. Lafayette's Caleb Williams hit a layup just before time expired to break a 65-65 tie, and Bucknell's Achile Spadone hit a 30-footer at the buzzer to hand AU a 60-59 loss earlier this week.
• 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 the Eagles with 13.3 points per game, with Jones close behind at 12.3 points per game. Jones has reached double digits in scoring in 10 straight games, and in 13 of the last 14 games.
• Facing a 17-point gap with under four minutes to play, AU stormed back to make it a two-possession game in the closing minute before dropping a 90-82 contest at Lehigh on Wednesday, Feb. 11. The Eagles placed five in double figures and nearly completed the rally despite a 33-point performance from Lehigh's Nasir Whitlock. Sprouse scored a season-high 21 points for AU including 5-of-8 from long range, and posted a career-high four steals.
• As a team, AU leads the PL in turnover margin (2.08), and steals (7.88 per game). The Eagles rank second in scoring defense (72.3 ppg) and second in free-throw percentage (.753). Their FT percentage is also good enough for 69th in NCAA Division I.
• Sprouse ranks fourth with 2.3 3-pt FG made per game.

What to Know About Army

• Army is looking to snap a three-game skid after falling 85-68 to Boston University on Wednesday. The Black Knights are tied for last place in the standings at 4-9, but only two games out of fourth place in a very tight field. 
• Junior guard Ryan Curry leads the way for Army with 14.4 points per game, and his 4.8 assists a game rank second in the PL. Sophomore guard Jaxson Bell (11.4) and sophomore forward Jacen Holloway (10.6) are also putting up double figures, while junior forward Tate Laczkowski paces the squad with 5.5 rebounds a contest.
• The Black Knights are 4-1 in overtime games this year with a young roster that includes 13 underclassmen and just five upperclassmen. Curry is the only returning Black Knight to have averaged more than 10 minutes per game last season.
• Kevin Kuwik is in his third season as head coach with a record of 37-64. In addition to a collegiate coaching career that dates back to 2000-01, Kuwik is a 10-year military veteran who earned a Bronze Star as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, earning an honorable discharge in 2006.

Keep Up With Us

• For the latest on American University Men's Basketball, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Instagram (@au_mbasketball), X (@AU_MBasketball), and Facebook (/AU.MBasketball).