Preview: Lehigh at American in Patriot League Showdown WASHINGTON (Interstat) — A pivotal Patriot League men’s basketball matchup with postseason implications is set for Wednesday night when the American Eagles host the Lehigh Mountain Hawks at Bender Arena. American (16-13 overall) enters the contest with a winning record and looks to defend its home court to improve its conference standing. The Eagles are coming off a convincing 75-61 road victory at Lafayette on Sunday, powered by a 28-point performance from guard Geoff Sprouse. Lehigh (13-16) seeks to even its season record and complete a regular-season sweep of the Eagles. The Mountain Hawks edged Boston University 70-67 on Sunday, their second win in three games. They defeated American 90-82 in Bethlehem on Feb. 11. The game features a compelling backcourt duel between two of the league’s top scorers. Lehigh’s Nasir Whitlock is averaging 23.1 points over his last eight games, including a 33-point outburst in the first meeting against American and a 30-point effort last time out. His dynamic playmaking will be central to Lehigh’s offense. American’s Sprouse, who scored 21 points in the earlier loss to Lehigh, is fresh off his season-high 28 points at Lafayette. His efficiency and scoring punch will be crucial for an Eagles team looking to avenge its February defeat. The rematch carries weight for the Patriot League tournament seeding. American aims to solidify its position, while Lehigh looks to build momentum for a late-season push. The Eagles have been stronger at home this season, while the Mountain Hawks have shown they can win on the road, as evidenced by their victory at Lafayette earlier this month. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Wednesday. American’s next game is at home against Boston University on Saturday. Lehigh will host Bucknell on Saturday.