Eagles Pull Away From Black Knights

Saturday, February 19

Washington, D.C.

2:00 PM

Army West Point

13-15,7-9Patriot

American University

8-19,4-11Patriot

Army West Point

American

Eagles Pull Away From Black Knights

February 19, 2022 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Game 28
SCORE	American U Eagles 83, Army Black Knights 67
RECORDS	American U (8-19, 4-11 Patriot) \| Army (13-15, 7-9 Patriot)
LEADING SCORERS	American U – Colin Smalls (17) \| Army – Charlie Peterson (13)
LOCATION	Bender Arena

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Black Knights dropped an 83-67 decision to the American University Eagles on Saturday.

GAME SUMMARY
The Black Knights' attempt at a season sweep of the Eagles came undone in the second half as the host turned a close contest into a 21-point lead.

Neither team led by more than two possessions in the first half that featured six ties. The Eagles went into halftime with a 35-33 lead.

In the early stages of the second half, there were eight lead changes in two minutes. Jalen Rucker got Army ahead with a 3-pointer for a 40-39 lead with 17:39 remaining to start the see-saw. The lead alternated on the following seven possessions including a Rucker layup to give the Black Knights a 46-45 lead with 15:58. However, it would be Army's last lead of the game.

American University's Stacy Beckton Jr. scored on a dunk on the ensuing possession to jump start an 18-4 run in six minutes. Another Beckton Jr. dunk gave the Eagles their largest lead of the game, 78-57, with 3:30 left.

CADETS CAPSULES

Charlie Peterson netted a team-high 13 points and swatted a team-high two shots.
Jalen Rucker scored 12 points to be in double figures for the 12^th straight game and dished out a game-high six assists.
Josh Caldwell grabbed a game-high eight rebounds, scored seven points, and two assists. His team-high three steals moved him three steals away from setting the single-season record.

COACH'S CORNER
"That was a tough one. It was the first time we didn't compete at the level we are capable of competing since we played LIU. We have been so much better defensively. I thought American beat us to every 50-50 ball. I'm disappointed in the level of leadership in myself and our upperclassmen. We were not ready to go and didn't compete." – Jimmy Allen

UP NEXT

Army West Point closes out its home schedule against Bucknell on Wednesday, February 23 at 6 p.m.
Coverage will be provided by ESPN+ and by the Army Sports Network via the Varsity Sports Network and www.GoArmyWestPoint.com.

For complete coverage of Army West Point men's basketball, follow the Black Knights on Twitter, Instagram, and online at www.goarmywestpoint.com.