American was sensational on Wednesday evening, taking pictures 51.9% from the ground and 11-of-25 from behind the arc. The Eagles by no means trailed within the sport and led by as many as 24.
The staff’s main scorer, graduate pupil Matt Rogers (16.8 PPG), had a team-high 25 factors (10-of-17 FG) and eight rebounds. His effectivity has been on full show all season by taking pictures at a 55.5% clip. He was named to the All-Patriot League First Staff because of his season-long efficiency for the Eagles.
American (22-12, 13-5 Patriot League) went on a tear in convention play, profitable seven straight within the early portion of the league schedule. It should take a four-game profitable streak into the NCAA Event.
The Eagles are one of the skilled groups within the nation. Led by head coach Duane Simpkins, 10 of American’s 17 gamers are both juniors or seniors.
Together with Rogers, graduate pupil Lincoln Ball has been a key element for the staff all season and hit a clutch buzzer-beater to take down Lehigh throughout American’s seven-game win streak. Senior Elijah Stephens has been strong on each ends of the ground and has averaged the second-most factors on the staff (10.7 PPG), solely behind Rogers.
Whereas the expertise has been a driving drive for the staff this season, sophomore guard Greg Jones has stepped up and been a lockdown defender for the staff, incomes Patriot League All-Defensive staff honors.
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi at present has American as a 16-seed as of Wednesday evening. As issues stand, the Eagles would face Northeast Convention champions St. Francis (PA) within the First 4, with the winner advancing to tackle the No. 1 seed Duke within the first spherical. With a NET ranking of 237 and a 0-4 file towards Quad 1 and a pair of opponents, that might be an enormous step up in competitors for the Eagles.
One certainty about this staff is it’s battle-tested. The Eagles opened the season with 4 highway video games in a five-game span. Regardless of the early adversity going 1-4, American turned its season round and completed the common season as co-champions within the Patriot League with Bucknell.
With wins over Lafayette, Colgate and Navy, American enters the NCAA Event as Patriot League Event champions and at last places to relaxation its 11-year drought of not making the “Huge Dance.”
If the seeding holds true, it could be exhausting to think about the Eagles taking down a one-seed, though crazier issues have occurred. Nonetheless, if their preliminary cease is the First 4, they are going to be a tough matchup for whoever faces them.
