Eagles Soar Past Leopards in NCAAB Clash
Sunday, February 22, 2026, 12:00 PM ET · Kirby Sports Center
American University Eagles 75, Lafayette Leopards 61, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won American University Eagles vs Lafayette Leopards?
American University Eagles beat Lafayette Leopards 75-61 at Kirby Sports Center on February 22, 2026.
Who was favored in American University Eagles vs Lafayette Leopards?
American University Eagles were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -185 (about 65% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive NCAAB matchup, the American University Eagles defeated the Lafayette Leopards 75-61 at the Kirby Sports Center on February 22, 2026. The Eagles, boasting a record of 16-13, showcased their strength against the struggling Leopards, who fell to 9-20 with this loss. The game was significant not only for its implications in the standings but also as a rematch of a closely contested earlier meeting in January, where Lafayette had edged American 67-65.
The Eagles entered the game on a two-game winning streak, having recently triumphed over Bucknell 75-57 and Army 75-63. In their last ten games, they maintained a record of 5-5, averaging 72.1 points scored while allowing 69.6 points. Their performance at home was slightly better, with a 2-2 record, while they were 3-3 in away games, indicating a balanced capability to compete both at home and on the road.
Conversely, the Leopards had a mixed bag of results, also at 5-5 in their last ten games, but with a streak of one win following their victory against Holy Cross 86-83. Lafayette averaged 67.6 points scored but allowed 69.4 points during this stretch. Their home record stood at 2-3, while they performed slightly better away with a 3-2 record, suggesting a potential for competitiveness away from home.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, the Eagles had the upper hand historically, leading the series 3-1 over the last two seasons. Prior to this game, they had narrowly lost to Lafayette earlier in the season, but the Eagles' recent form suggested they were ready to turn the tables.
Injury reports showed no significant absences for either team, allowing both squads to field their strongest lineups. This aspect added to the anticipation surrounding the game, as both teams aimed to capitalize on their full rosters.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, favored the Eagles by 3.5 points, indicating a belief in their ability to secure the win. The total points line was set at 141.5, reflecting expectations for a moderately high-scoring affair.
As the game unfolded, the Eagles established control early, with a strong performance from their key players. Madden Collins made crucial contributions, including a tip-in layup and a driving layup that helped extend their lead. Mark Butler also played a pivotal role, hitting a three-pointer and converting free throws to keep the scoreboard ticking in favor of American.
The Leopards struggled to keep pace, particularly in the second half, where they were outscored significantly. Despite some moments of resilience, including a three-pointer from Butler that briefly narrowed the gap to ten points, the Eagles maintained their composure and closed out the game effectively.
Overall, this matchup highlighted the contrasting fortunes of the two programs, with American University continuing to build momentum as they head toward the postseason, while Lafayette will need to regroup and reassess their strategy as they face the challenges ahead.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | AMER -3.5 | 141.5 o -108 / u -112 | American University Eagles -185 · Lafayette Leopards +154 |
Leaders
- PointsMark Butler17Lafayette Leopards
- AssistsMark Butler8Lafayette Leopards
- ReboundsShareef Jackson5Lafayette Leopards
- PointsGeoff Sprouse28American University Eagles
- AssistsJulen Iturbe5American University Eagles
- ReboundsGreg Jones7American University Eagles
Recent form
Lafayette Leopards
Last 10: 5-5Streak W167.6 scored · 69.4 allowed per game2-3 at home
- W86-83at Holy Cross CrusadersFeb 18
- L69-78vs Lehigh Mountain HawksFeb 14
- L54-68vs Loyola Maryland GreyhoundsFeb 12
- W63-60at Army Black KnightsFeb 7
- L50-65vs Navy MidshipmenFeb 5
- W67-65at American University EaglesJan 31
- W81-79vs Bucknell BisonJan 29
- L59-64at Lehigh Mountain HawksJan 25
- L73-77at Boston University TerriersJan 21
- W74-55vs Holy Cross CrusadersJan 17
American University Eagles
Last 10: 5-5Streak W272.1 scored · 69.6 allowed per game3-3 away
- W75-57at Bucknell BisonFeb 19
- W75-63vs Army Black KnightsFeb 14
- L82-90at Lehigh Mountain HawksFeb 12
- L73-82at Navy MidshipmenFeb 7
- L59-60vs Bucknell BisonFeb 5
- L65-67vs Lafayette LeopardsJan 31
- L68-77at Loyola Maryland GreyhoundsJan 29
- W76-67at Holy Cross CrusadersJan 24
- W70-66vs Colgate RaidersJan 22
- W78-67at Army Black KnightsJan 18
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navy | 26-8 | - | 17-1 |
| Colgate | 18-15 | 6 | 11-7 |
| Lehigh | 18-17 | 6 | 11-7 |
| Boston University | 17-17 | 7 | 10-8 |
| American University | 16-16 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Loyola Maryland | 12-20 | 9 | 8-10 |
| Lafayette | 11-21 | 9 | 8-10 |
| Bucknell | 10-23 | 11 | 6-12 |
| Army | 11-21 | 12 | 5-13 |
| Holy Cross | 11-22 | 12 | 5-13 |
Box score
| Stat | American University Eagles | Lafayette Leopards |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-55 | 24-48 |
| Field goal % | 49 | 50 |
| Three-pointers | 13-26 | 2-12 |
| Three-point % | 50 | 17 |
| Free throws | 8-11 | 11-16 |
| Free throw % | 73 | 69 |
| Rebounds | 31 | 25 |
| Offensive rebounds | 7 | 5 |
| Defensive rebounds | 24 | 20 |
| Assists | 16 | 18 |
| Steals | 5 | 3 |
| Blocks | 0 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 7 | 7 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 12 | 2 |
| Fast-break points | 12 | 2 |
| Points in the paint | 26 | 42 |
| Fouls | 16 | 14 |
| Largest lead | 14 | 5 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 82 | 13 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half29-31Mark Butler makes 16-foot pullup jump shot
- 1st Half32-31Julen Iturbe makes 25-foot three point jumper (Geoff Sprouse assists)
- 1st Half34-31Greg Jones makes layup (Julen Iturbe assists)
- 2nd Half37-31Geoff Sprouse makes 27-foot three point jumper (Julen Iturbe assists)
- 2nd Half40-31Geoff Sprouse makes 26-foot three point jumper (Kade Sebastian assists)
- 2nd Half40-32Ryan Pettit makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half43-32Geoff Sprouse makes 24-foot three point jumper (Greg Jones assists)
- 2nd Half43-34Ryan Pettit makes layup (Mark Butler assists)
- 2nd Half45-34Chris Eagan makes layup (Madden Collins assists)
- 2nd Half45-36Misha Bednostin makes 2-foot dunk (Mark Butler assists)
- 2nd Half47-36Madden Collins makes driving layup
- 2nd Half47-38KaiMani Murdock makes layup (Misha Bednostin assists)
- 2nd Half48-38Wyatt Nausadis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-40Ryan Pettit makes driving layup (Misha Bednostin assists)
- 2nd Half48-42Mark Butler makes layup
- 2nd Half50-42Madden Collins makes driving layup
- 2nd Half50-43Mark Butler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-44Mark Butler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-44Geoff Sprouse makes 25-foot three point jumper (Matt Mayock assists)
- 2nd Half53-46Shareef Jackson makes layup (Christian Humphrey-Rembert assists)
- 2nd Half53-48Andrew Phillips makes layup (Mark Butler assists)
- 2nd Half53-50Shareef Jackson makes layup (Mark Butler assists)
- 2nd Half56-50Julen Iturbe makes 24-foot three point jumper (Geoff Sprouse assists)
- 2nd Half59-50Geoff Sprouse makes 25-foot three point jumper (Julen Iturbe assists)
- 2nd Half59-52Ryan Pettit makes 11-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half61-52Matt Mayock makes 18-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half61-53Mark Butler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-54Mark Butler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-54Matt Mayock makes layup
- 2nd Half64-54Matt Mayock makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half64-56KaiMani Murdock makes driving layup (Mark Butler assists)
- 2nd Half67-56Geoff Sprouse makes 27-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half69-56Madden Collins makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half69-57Mark Butler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-58Mark Butler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-58Madden Collins makes driving layup
- 2nd Half71-61Mark Butler makes 25-foot three point jumper (Andrew Phillips assists)
- 2nd Half72-61Greg Jones makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-61Greg Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-61Geoff Sprouse makes 3-foot jumper
Win probability
Above the line favours Lafayette Leopards, below favours American University Eagles.
Venue
- Kirby Sports CenterEaston, PA
- Attendance1144
- OfficialsScott Bennett, Ernest Hamilton III, Brandon Kamil
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