WASHINGTON, D.C. – Trying to overcome a third straight double-digit deficit, the Boston University men's basketball team battled American to the end in a hard-fought 76-74 loss on Sunday afternoon at Bender Arena.

With their fourth straight win in a contest that saw them lead by as many as 15, the Eagles (12-3) remain unbeaten in Patriot League play at 4-0, while the Terriers (9-8, 2-2 PL) suffered their first defeat of 2023.

Graduate student Walter Whyte led all players with 23 points and 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Classmate Fletcher Tynen was the second Terrier in double figures at 11 points. BU shot 48.3 percent in the second half after shooting 36.0 percent in the first to end the game 23-of-54 (.426).

Four Eagles scored in double figures with Colin Smalls posting 13 off the bench. Johnny O'Neil was one rebound shy of a double-double, as he matched Matt Rogers and Elijah Stephens at 11 points apiece. AU finished the game 25-of-49 (.510) and outscored BU off turnovers, 17-13, with the help of nine steals.

DOWN THE STRETCH

• Facing a 27-12 deficit in the first half, the Terriers grabbed their first lead of the game at 8:08 on Tynen's putback and bonus free throw.
• American missed the next two shot attempts but after jumping up for a second offensive rebound drew a flagrant foul at 7:29.
• The Eagles hit both free throws and added a layup before extending the lead to 66-60 at 3:37 on Geoff Sprouse's jumper.
• O'Neil kept the lead at six, 72-66, on a layup with 1:22 remaining before Whyte hit a layup and Tynen drained a pair of free throws to pull within two, 72-70, at 28 seconds.
• The teams exchanged free throws over the next 24 seconds with Brittain-Watts hitting both attempts at 4.7 seconds to keep the deficit at two, 76-74.
• Fouled at 4.2s, AU missed both free throws, leading to a BU timeout, but was able to deflect a long pass from the Terriers to seal the victory.

THE SETUP

• American recorded three steals in the first two minutes to jump out to a 7-2 lead and extended it to 15-6 at 12:19 on O'Neil's layup.
• The Eagles hit two free throws seven minutes later to grab a 27-12 lead before BU finished the half on a 17-5 run.
• Harper flushed a 3-pointer at 1:59 to pull within four, 28-24, and Tynen scored on a putback at two seconds to cut the Eagles' lead to 32-29 entering the locker room.
• Senior Nevin Zink eventually tied the game on a slam dunk set up by junior Miles Brewster's pass, 35-35, at 16:47.
• AU though would pull back ahead, 55-46, on a 3-pointer at 10:41.
• Whyte followed Tynen's layup with a 3-pointer as part of a 10-0 run capped by Tynen's 3-point play at 8:08 for the one-point advantage.

GAME NOTES

• With his 17th career double-double, Whyte moved up to No. 10 all-time in points at 1,478, surpassing both Kenny Boyd ('74) and D.J. Irving ('14) while also moving past Dom Morris ('14) for the No. 7 slot in rebounds at 747.
• Freshman Otto Landrum earned his first career start.
• Despite posting a 24-20 advantage in made free throws, BU suffered its first loss of the season when hitting more shots at the charity stripe, dropping to 5-1.
• American snapped BU's three-game win streak in the series to cut the Terriers' lead to 12-9.

UP NEXT

• The Terriers will remain on the road and visit Colgate on Wednesday (Jan. 11) at 7 p.m.
• The two teams recorded a split last season with the home team winning both contests.
• Colgate has won its last four home games since BU claimed the 2020 PL tournament title.