After losing at home against the Holy Cross Crusaders (3-2) 84-73 on Jan. 10, the American University men’s basketball team (3-2) snapped a two game skid by defeating the rival Navy Midshipmen (4-1) 65-51 in a rematch of the 2025 Patriot League Championship game on Jan. 12.
Despite the Eagles jumping out to a 23-16 lead against Holy Cross in the first half, the Eagles’ offense came to a screeching halt as they shot an abysmal 8.3 percent on 3-pointers on 24 attempts. Even during their poor shooting night, the Eagles’ defense was suffocating, and the game remained competitive, showcasing 16 lead changes and 4 ties.
The Eagles bench also showed frustration with the overall officiating of the match, which put the Crusaders at the free throw line 33 times. With just over 16 minutes left in the second half, Holy Cross hit a midrange shot, but on the play sophomore guard Wyatt Nausadis was elbowed in the face without an offensive foul called that enraged the bench.
As Holy Cross took a 47-42 lead, there was tension in the Bender Arena air as Eagles head coach Duane Simpkins called a timeout and rushed the court to argue and yell at the officials, resulting in a technical foul being called on him.
The Crusaders went on to close the game out, winning 84-73, tying American’s Patriot League record at 2-2.
Freshman guard Madden Collins was the bright spot for the Eagles offense, leading the team with 26 points and 8 rebounds. Junior forward Greg Jones recorded 15 points and 6 rebounds.
After the game, Simpkins defended his actions where he picked up the technical citing a pattern of free throw disparity.
“I thought he got elbowed. A little push off. This is the third game in a row now where that has happened and there hasn’t been a call,” Simpkins said. “We’re a team that’s been touching the paint quite a bit. 50 points in the paint against Loyola. Colgate had 36 and we had 32. Colgate shoots 23 free throws, we shoot six. I’ve got to advocate for my team because we’re doing the right things and when situations like that come up, I’m just not going to continue to be the nice guy on the sidelines.”
During last season’s championship run, American never lost two Patriot League games in a row. Friday’s defeat ended that streak and turned Monday’s matchup against first-place Navy into a defining moment early in conference play.
“We lost two in a row now, and we got to right the ship, and we got to protect Bender,” Simpkins said.
Navy, who was projected to be the favorites to win by ESPN during the first nationally televised Patriot League game of the season, was looking to add to their dominant start.
Simpkins decided to make a change to his typical starting lineup, calling the freshman Kade Sebastian’s number over Nausadis who has started the whole year.
With an attendance of 1,314 fans, Bender Arena thrummed with energy as students returned back to campus after Winter Break.
At the start of the game American won the tip and senior guard Geoff Sprouse opened the game with a quick 3-pointer to set the tone.
After Nausadis checked into the game off the bench, he hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give American a 17-6 lead, forcing Navy to call a timeout with 10 and a half minutes remaining in the first half. Coming out of the timeout, Nausadis hit another 3-pointer, giving the Eagles a 20-8 lead.
As the halftime buzzer was about to expire, junior forward Matt Mayock blocked a Navy shot., and Sprouse got the rebound and dished a slick pass to the running Nausadis who got the quick transition layup buzzer beater. The Eagles led at the half 33-17.
As the Eagles had momentum heading into the second half, Jones began to take over, hitting a 3-pointer, driving layup and a put back layup, putting AU in the driver's seat leading 44-30 with slightly over 13 minutes remaining.
The Bender Arena faithful taunted Navy Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year Austin Bengini chanting, “Free throw merchant,” on every possession he touched the ball, a tradition that began after Navy beat the Eagles 68-60 last season on Feb. 26, 2025 where he shot 9 free throws.
Navy went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to single digits, but Nausadis, who was the hero of the game hit a 3-pointer from way downtown, and sophomore forward Julen Iturbe hit a 3-pointer of his own on the next possession extending the lead to 50-37 with over 9 minutes left in the game.
That bucket ended Navy’s comeback hopes and the Eagles went on to secure the 65-51 victory, snapping Navy’s eight game win streak.
Jones led the team in scoring with 23 points and added 7 rebounds. Nausadis dropped 17 points and Iturbe had a team high 9 rebounds and 4 assists.
American dominated on all cylinders by forcing 17 Navy turnovers, picking up 15 offensive rebounds and outscoring Navy 30-18 in points in the paint.
Sprouse continued to make American basketball history, moving into fifth all-time in 3-pointers made.
Jones had a tremendous performance on the defensive end of the ball after guarding Bengini, holding the 17.8 point per game scorer to just 2 points at the half and at 12 points, 0 assists and 5 turnovers in the game.
“I take a lot of pride in stopping their best player, their main spark,” Jones said. “I kind of prepared myself for Bengini. I’ve been playing him for 2–3 years, so I’m just glad I went out there and executed.”
The game was intense and physical. Jones took a hard screen that knocked him to the ground late in the second half, but he said there was no personal beef between him and Navy, even after he was intentionally hit in the genitalia in last year’s Patriot League Championship game causing Navy guard Jordan Pennick’s flagrant two ejection.
“Obviously they feel some type of way about us.” Jones said. “We beat them in the championship last year. At the end of the day it’s a game, none of that stuff is personal.”
Sprouse agreed with Jones’ sentiment and added, “We understood that we had a target on our back for winning last year’s championship, so mentally we had to come prepared.”
After Nausadis’s performance following his benching, Simpkins praised his guard for bouncing back and credited it to championship pedigree culture.
“His response was unreal. He had me in tears in the locker room,” Simpkins said. “I know what it’s like as a player. Pretty much, we wanted to have more of a defensive mindset to start.”
Nausadis followed up, explaining how he processed his benching and prepared for this matchup.
“I was obviously disappointed when I found out I wouldn’t be starting anymore, but I also completely agreed with the decision. I haven’t had great games, and I kind of knew that. My mindset was to be a leader, contribute however I can off the bench, bring a spark and just have fun,” Nausadis said. “I say a prayer before every game, and today I changed it up, I just said, ‘God let me have fun today’ and I did.”
“Say that every game then, that’s pretty good,” Simpkins said laughing warmly.
The Eagles are currently in a four team tie for 3rd place in the Patriot League standings.
American traveled to New York and defeated the West Point Black Knights 78-67 on Jan. 18. The Eagles return to Bender on Jan. 21 to play the Colgate Raiders.
This article was edited by Connor Sturniolo, Jack Stashower and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Avery Grossman, Arin Burrell and Nicole Kariuki.
