VILLANOVA, Pa.- Men's hoops opened the 2024-25 season with a 75-63 loss at Villanova's Finneran Pavilion on Monday night.

Senior co-captain Justin Vander Baan netted a team-leading 16 points and four assists to go with a pair of blocks. His classmate Devin Hines followed up with 12 points and three boards in his debut. The Maroon and White shot 41 percent from the field and tallied seven 3-pointers.

The Wildcats took a 12-10 edge by the 12-minute mark using seven points from transfer Wooga Poplar.

Vander Baan kept the Leopards within two, 19-17, at 6:35 with a deep 3-pointer.

TJ Berger added a shot from beyond the arc at 3:57, which fueled an 8-5 spurt to give Lafayette its first lead of the night, 25-24. Despite a last-second attempt by Vander Baan, the Maroon and White trailed 30-29 at halftime.

Villanova jumped out to a 48-37 advantage by the 13-minute mark of the second half. Enoch Boakye put up three points in the 11-0 run and Villanova's largest lead of the game.  

Hines and Vander Baan combined to match the hosts in scoring to 6:35, unable to overcome the 60-53 deficit. Jhamir Brickus knocked down eight points to help Villanova close out the evening on top, 75-63.

The Wildcats shot 51.7 percent from the floor and made 4-of-13 from long distance overall, alongside 40 points in the paint.

Poplar led five opponents in double figures with a double-double of his own, comprised of 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Villanova out-rebounded Lafayette 41-25, including a 13-9 margin on the offensive glass. 

The Leopards continue on the road at La Salle on Saturday with a 3:30 p.m. tip-off in Philadelphia.

 
For the latest on the Lafayette College men's basketball program, follow the Leopards on Twitter @LafayetteMBB and Instagram @lafayettembb.