SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — In an exciting matchup at the Puerto Rico Classico tournament, Colin Smalls led the way with 23 points as American University narrowly defeated the University of Albany, finishing with a score of 81-77 on Sunday.

Smalls showcased his shooting prowess, hitting 8-of-11 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc for the Eagles, who improved their record to 3-4. Elijah Stephens contributed significantly with 20 points, converting 7-of-10 from the field and 6-of-9 from the free-throw line, along with five rebounds and six assists. Additionally, Matt Mayock put up 17 points, shooting 6-of-8 overall and making 3-of-4 from three-point territory.

For Albany, Justin Neely was the standout player, scoring 20 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Byron Joshua followed closely with 17 points and six rebounds, while Kheni Briggs chipped in with 14 points. The loss marked the end of a five-game winning streak for the Great Danes, who now hold a record of 5-2.

American took a safe lead into halftime, up 39-30, with Smalls contributing 12 points in the first half. In the second half, the Eagles pulled away with an impressive 8-0 run that extended their lead to 19 points at 65-46 with just over ten minutes remaining. They managed to maintain their advantage to secure the victory.

Looking ahead, American University will face UPR-Mayaguez on Saturday, while the University of Albany is set to visit Georgetown on the same day.