Men’s Basketball: Terriers Hope to Carry Patriot League Mojo into Contest vs. American

Featured image by Matthew Wuschke

By Avery Kreitler

Boston University’s Men’s Basketball (14-14, 8-7 PL) heads into a matchup against American University (17-11, 11-4 PL) on Saturday, Feb. 22. The opponents will be fighting for favorable postseason standings in a competitive conference game. 

The Terriers have had an inconsistent season thus far, but they remain a dangerous team, particularly at home with an impressive 11-3 record. However, being 2-11 on the road, BU will need to overcome its struggles on the road to secure a win and achieve a winning record. 

The Eagles have been a dominant force in the Patriot League this season, fueled by a strong 10-1 home record. They will look to use their home-court advantage to defeat the Terriers as they seek revenge for a 60-54 loss to Boston earlier this season. 

Two key matchups will define this contest. 

AU’s leading scorer, Matt Rogers, excels offensively, averaging 17.3 points per game on 56.1% shooting. He outperforms BU’s Kyrone Alexander, who completes 12.7 points per game on 40.6% shooting. However, Alexander presents a stronger defensive performance, with 1.1 steals per game in comparison to Rogers’ 0.6. Their leadership will be crucial in determining which team gains the upper hand. 

In the backcourt, American’s Elijah Stephens–with 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game–will also challenge BU with his playmaking and defensive pressure. He poses a threat to Boston’s Michael McNair, who completes 44.6% of his scoring attempts and goes 42.7% from three. 

To pull off an upset, BU will need to limit turnovers and capitalize on scoring opportunities. Attention to details–like rebounding and second-chance points–could determine the outcome of this game. 

The Boston Terriers’ matchup against the American Eagles will take place at Bender Arena and it will be streamed live on ESPN+. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.