EASTON, Pa. (AP) Nick Lindner scored 25 points and Lafayette held off several second-half runs by American to win the Patriot League tournament title with a 65-63 victory over the Eagles on Wednesday night.

The fourth-seeded Leopards (20-12) became the lowest seed to win the league tournament title - and its automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament - in its 25-year history.

After defending champion and sixth-seeded American (17-16) took 55-53 lead on Marko Vasic's 3-point play with 5:07 left, the Lafayette got consecutive 3-pointers from Seth Hinrichs and Zach Rufer to regain the lead for good.

With Lafayette up 61-60, Lindner hit a driving shot with 38 seconds left. After American's John Schoof missed a 3, Lindner hit two free throws to seal it.

Lindner, a sophomore point guard, was named tournament MVP. Hinrichs added 16 points.

Vasic finished with 15 points to lead the Eagles.

Lafayette opened up its biggest lead at 40-27 early in the second half on consecutive 3-pointers by Bryce Scott and Michael Hoffman, but American responded with seven in a row to pull within six on Pee Wee Gardner's basket with 15:47 remaining.

Lafayette then led 48-36 after three consecutive pull-up jumpers by Hinrichs, but American scored nine straight points to pull to 50-47 with less than 9 minutes left.

Lindner scored 16 points in the first half to give Lafayette a 34-25 lead at the break.

American had nine field goals and 10 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

The Eagles led until Lindner hit an open 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the Leopards a 17-15 lead with 10:45 to go in the first half. Lafayette led the rest of the half.

Lafayette, which made 13 of 19 shots (68.4 percent) in the opening half, had runs of 11-0 and 7-0 to create a little cushion. Lindner's drive with 1:40 remaining gave the Leopards their biggest lead of the half at 30-21.

TIP INS

Lafayette: The Leopards last won a league tournament title in 2000, the second of two in a row. They were 0-4 in Patriot League finals before Wednesday.

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Lafayette: NCAA Tournament.