WASHINGTON – Greg Jones contributed significantly to American’s thrilling 71-69 win over Lafayette in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, scoring 17 points in the hard-fought match.
In a decisive moment, Colin Smalls secured a 71-67 lead for American by making crucial free throws with just 10 seconds left in the game.
Besides his scoring, Jones also impressed with five rebounds, showcasing his all-around game for the Eagles, who improved to a 20-12 record. Lincoln Ball chipped in with 13 points, shooting 5 of 8 from the field and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line, while also collecting six rebounds. Matt Mayock contributed with efficiency, knocking down 4 of his 5 shots from the field to finish with 10 points.
For the Leopards, Alex Chaikin was the standout player, racking up 29 points and six rebounds as he attempted to lead his team to victory. Justin Vander Baan also added significant contributions with 14 points, six rebounds, five assists, and five blocks, displaying versatility across the board. Andrew Phillips had a solid performance with 12 points and six rebounds for Lafayette, who closed the season with a 13-20 record.
Jones kicked off the match by scoring seven points in the first half, though American found themselves trailing 34-23 at halftime. However, a remarkable 14-0 run in the second half put American in the lead at 56-51 with just over nine minutes remaining, with Jones adding 10 points in this pivotal segment of the game.
