WASHINGTON - For the 12th annual Sustainability Awareness Game presented by Platinum Level official game sponsors DAVIS Construction and Pepco, American University men's basketball is welcoming Bucknell for a 7 p.m. contest on Wednesday, Feb. 4. The Eagles are looking to snap a two-game skid, while the Bison are coming off a double-overtime win that ended a four-game losing streak.
Quick Info
- Date/Time: Wednesday, February 4; 7 pm
- Site: Washington, D.C. (Bender Arena)
- Series History: Bucknell leads, 49-31
- TV: ESPN+
- Talent: Dan Laing, Gordon Austin
Sustainability Awareness Night
- Wednesday's game marks the 12th annual Sustainability Awareness Night, tipping off AU's Campus Race to Zero Waste, an annual national competition between colleges and universities to reduce waste.
- The game is planned each year by AU Athletics, the Office of Sustainability, Facilities Management's Energy & Engineering and Grounds, and the Office of Parking and Commuter Services.
- Attendees will be able to celebrate AU's sustainability accomplishments and efforts across campus by engaging with environmental student organizations.
- AU students receive free admission to the game with an AU ID, and AU faculty, staff, alumni, and fans receive $5 off per ticket when using the online coupon code GREEN26.
- AU students will get a raffle ticket at the game for a chance to win a new electric scooter.
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
- Bucknell leads American 49-31 in the all-time series, but the Eagles have won four of the last six games.
- Last season, AU come back from an 11-point halftime deficit to win 68-58 at home, starting what become a seven-game win streak.
- That streak was snapped when AU made the trip to Bucknell with a shorthanded squad due to illness and lost 71-49.
- Two years ago, the Bison ended AU's season, handing the Eagles an 80-57 home loss in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Patriot League Tournament after AU had won both regular-season meetings.
What to Know About American
- The Eagles had won four straight before suffering back-to-back losses last week to Loyola Maryland and Lafayette.
- AU and Bucknell are meeting for the first time this season, despite the Eagles having played three other PL teams twice already.
- Leading AU in scoring this season is freshman Madden Collins with 13.3 points per game. Junior Greg Jones is close behind with 12.3 points per game. Collins and sophomore Julen Iturbe lead AU with 5.2 rebounds per game.
- The Eagles are 10-3 in Bender Arena so far in 2025-26.
- 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.
- As a team, AU leads the PL in turnover margin (2.09), and steals (8.09 per game). The Eagles rank third in scoring (75.5 ppg), second in scoring margin (3.8 ppg), and second in free-throw percentage (.759). • Senior Geoff Sprouse ranks seventh with 2.1 3-pt FG made per game.
- AU is forcing an average of 13.4 turnovers per game while committing just 11.3 per game. The Eagles' turnover margin of 2.09 leads the PL by 1.6 turnovers per game, and ranks 69th in NCAA Division I.
What to Know About Bucknell
- The Bison halted a four-game skid this past weekend with a 103-97 double-overtime home win against Boston University after going 11-for-15 from the field in extra time, including three-pointers on three straight possessions in the second OT period.
- Bucknell played a tough non-conference slate and started 2-0 before falling in nine straight games. The Bison then went 4-3 before their recent four-game slide in PL play.
- Freshman Amon Dörries leads Bucknell with 14.5 points per game, with three others also averaging in double digits in scoring. Sophomore guard Jayden Williams ranks fifth in the PL with 4.2 assists per game, and second in assist/turnover ratio at 2.5.
- The Bison have been shorthanded and have played without as many as five scholarship players for much of the season.
- John Griffin III, a 2008 Bucknell graduate and standout guard at Bucknell, is in his third season as head coach. Bucknell went 14-19 overall and 10-8 in the Patriot League in his first season, and then last year improved to 18-15 overall and 13-5 in the Patriot League.
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