Both the Eagles and Colonials started off slow from the field but they found ways to stay in the game. American defense forced turnovers while George Washington’s A Toro destroyed the Eagles on the boards.
In the end, the Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year showed why he was deserving of the honor. Sa’eed Nelson hit two shots in the last 23 seconds, including he game winner at the buzzer in AU’s 67-65 win in Foggy Bottom. As great as Nelson’s career has been at American, this was his first game winning shot. “A lot of the late games over my career we’ve lost and I’ve missed the game-winning shot more than me hitting it, but I know my team trusts me to take that shot,” said Nelson
After George Washington tied it with a little over eight seconds left in the game. Everyone knew who was going to get it. The Colonials chose not to deny the inbounds to Nelson but they did try to pressure him coming up the floor. “He’s gonna get it, and he’s gonna make the play,” said American head coach Mike Brennan.
Neither one of Nelson’s big shots were easy. With 23 seconds left, he finished at the rim over three Colonials. On the game-winner, he fought his way up the floor and eventually finished over his defender. Nelson said, “I practice that shot a lot.”
And one heck of a shot it was.
