OPENING TIP
Lafayette men's basketball continues the second round of Patriot League matchups at Holy Cross in the 79th meeting since 1947. The initial 2024-25 meeting with the Crusaders took place on Jan. 11 and became the sixth consecutive series victory for the Leopards.

Previously in the series, men's hoops shot 58 percent from the floor to defeat Holy Cross, 82-65, at Kirby Sports Center. All five starters scored in double figures, led by Justin Vander Baan's season-high 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Caleb Williams (15), Andrew Phillips (13), Mark Butler (12) and Alex Chaikin (10) helped the team to a 42 percent total performance from beyond the arc. Holy Cross shot 43 percent from the floor and got off six 3-pointers. Joe Nugent led the opponent with 18 points and four rebounds.

Last time out, Lafayette was thwarted by Bucknell, 75-69, on Feb. 15 in Kirby Sports Center. Freshman Alex Chaikin recorded a new career high with 23 points, including four 3-pointers. The Williamsburg, Va. native shot a team-high 7-of-11 from the charity stripe. Caleb Williams (13) and Justin Vander Baan (10) also finished in double figures. Free throw shooting was important to the outcome as Bucknell finished 11-for-12 compared to Lafayette's 18-of-31. Mark Butler, the only Leopard to start every game of the 2024-25 season, saw only seven minutes of play before checking out due to injury and forcing head coach Mike McGarvey to go deeper into the bench guard. 

On Feb. 17, Alex Chaikin received his second weekly conference honor. The Rookie of the Week averaged 19.5 points against American (Feb. 10) and Bucknell (Feb. 15). He improved his career high to 23 points against the Bison.

Next up, the Leopards host Lehigh during the 248th Rivalry installation on Saturday at 5 p.m. The contest will also serve as Alumni Day and Senior Day with pregame recognitions for each group.

THE MATCHUP
Holy Cross finished the 2023-24 regular season at 10-23 (6-12 PL) overall. The Crusaders return 10 letterwinners while adding four newcomers to a program that finished ninth in the conference last year. 

A three-time Patriot League Coach of the Year and two-time Division III National Coach of the Year, head coach Dave Paulsen has won four Patriot League regular season titles, two Patriot League Tournament titles and the 2003 NCAA Division III national championship, while leading his teams to eight NCAA Tournament appearances. The second-year head coach enters this season as one of just 22 active Division I head coaches with over 500 career victories in his 29 season catalog, including 134 wins in a seven year stop at Bucknell from 2008-15.

Holy Cross owns an overall record of 12-15 on the current year with a 4-10 mark in the Patriot League. The Crusaders are coming off a 72-60 setback at Lehigh on Saturday. Freshman guard Max Green leads the team by averaging 14.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. 

BIG BLOCKER
Senior center Justin Vander Baan has blocked 65 shots this season, good for seventh in the country and first in the Patriot League. His 3.0 blocks per game average ranks third in the NCAA. He matched his career high of six swats at Navy on Jan. 5. As a program, Lafayette ranks first in the conference in blocks per game (3.5).

In three years wearing the Maroon and White, Vander Baan quickly climbed the program ranks to second all-time on College Hill with 171 career stops. After passing 2001 graduate Frank Barr's 160 blocks against American on Jan. 29, his sights are next set on first place: Robb Dill '04 with 191.

DOUBLE TROUBLE
Justin Vander Baan has three double-doubles to his name this season. While hosting Stonehill on Dec. 29, the Northbridge, Mass. native recorded 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. On Jan. 8 at Bucknell, Vander Baan secured 14 points and 10 rebounds. Previously against Navy (Feb. 8), Vander Baan returned from illness to pocket 15 points and 13 rebounds. He leads the current Lafayette squad with six career double-doubles.

GOOD THINGS COME IN THREES
During the week of Jan. 24, three Leopards averaged double figures in points for the first time in 2024-25. Justin Vander Baan led the charge with 12.2, followed by freshman Alex Chaikin (11.7) and sophomore Andrew Phillips (10.0). Vander Baan (12.0), Chaikin (12.5) and first-year Caleb Williams (10.3) currently hold the streak.

PETTIT LARCENY
Junior guard Ryan Pettit has 40 steals in 27 games for the Leopards. The Westfield, N.J. native is leading the conference in total steals and is fourth in steals per game (1.5). He made a career-high four heists at George Washington on Dec. 18.

FIRST DAY OUT
Lafayette is fourth in the Patriot League in bench points per game at 20.1. Freshmen Alex Chaikin (60, fourth) and Caleb Williams (48, ninth) stand out in the conference for their total 3-pointers. Chaikin leads the Leopard squad in three-point shooting, knocking down 44 percent on 100+ attempts. Folabomi Fayemi secured the first 3-pointer of his career on Feb. 8 versus Navy in his five minutes on the court, helping the Leopards deter a crucial Midshipmen attempt to close the gap in the second half en route to the 61-51 win. All Lafayette freshmen have seen court time and contributed this winter.

PASS THE ROCK
Lafayette is currently second in the Patriot League for its 1.3 assist/turnover ratio and its 14.3 assists per game. Through Feb. 15, Mark Butler ranked seventh in the conference 40th in the NCAA with a 2.58 assist/turnover ratio. The Philadelphia, Pa. native has dished 80 assists and has kept to 31 turnovers so far this season.

A GAME OF NUMBERS
The Leopards are 9-1 in games when leading at halftime compared to 1-16 when trailing going into the break. Lafayette is also 7-6 when winning the opening tip-off, but 3-11 if it goes to the opponent. In games decided by three points or less, men's hoops is 1-5 in 2024-25.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
Alumni & Senior Day will take place on Feb. 22 during the next installment of the Rivalry with Lehigh. Alumni may register for the full day of programming now at tinyurl.com/29f97f5x. Activities include morning shootaround with the team, a lunch and film session, both the men's and women's games against Lehigh, on-court recognitions and a postgame pig roast.  

FAMILIAR FOES
Lafayette has played 514 games against current Patriot League members. In conference play, the Leopards are 218-296 in the regular season and 25-31 in the Patriot League Tournament.

SHUFFLING STARTERS
Lafayette has used eight different starting lineups, featuring nine athletes, through 27 contests. Sophomore guard Mark Butler is the only Leopard to start every game this season, though he left the previous Bucknell contest due to injury and is unsure to return. In the lineup (previously used 10 consecutive times), Butler and Justin Vander Baan are both returning starters while Caleb Williams, Alex Chaikin and Andrew Phillips are all fresh faces for 2024-25. Misha Bednostin filled in for Vander Baan on Feb. 5 due to illness.

WEEKLY LAURELS
On Feb. 17, Alex Chaikin received his second weekly conference honor. The Rookie of the Week averaged 19.5 points against American (Feb. 10) and Bucknell (Feb. 15). He improved his career high to 23 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the floor and four 3-pointers against the Bison and totaled 16 points, four rebounds and two assists while at the Eagles.

Caleb Williams was the Patriot League Men's Basketball Rookie of the Week on Jan. 13. The Jacksonville, Fla. native picked up his first collegiate award after averaging 13 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game to help the Leopards split the previous week, including the 82-65 victory over Holy Cross. 

On Dec. 2, Chaikin was named the Patriot League Men's Basketball Rookie of the Week. The Williamsburg, Va. native picked up his first collegiate award after compiling 34 points, 13 rebounds and two assists to help the Leopards finish 2-1 in the inaugural Lafayette Classic. 

ALUMNI IN THE PROS
On Dec. 21, Former Leopard captain and 1,000-point scorer Leo O'Boyle '23 re-signed with the Newcastle Falcons for summer 2025 after averaging 17.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game last year in Australia. The Scranton, Pa. native also played his graduate season for Penn State and had a stint in Pully-Lausanne, Switzerland. On Jan. 15, he scored 41 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Foxes in a 106-98 loss in the Swiss League.

On. Jan. 22, E.J. Stephens '21 was added to the 2025 NBL1 roster for the Newcastle Falcons alongside O'Boyle and Myles Cherry '20. The 6'3 guard is a dynamic scorer and had a standout collegiate career with the Leopards and at Minnesota University. The Plantation, Fla. native spent the 2023-24 season with the Cheshire Phoenix in England's SLB (formerly BBL). 

EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS
Lafayette's athletic programs stood out among the nation's best on Nov. 20 in the NCAA's Division I annual Graduation Success Rate (GSR) release. College Hill claimed a 97 percent GSR overall based on the 19 sports measured. Sixteen Leopard teams, including men's basketball, achieved a graduation success rate of 100 percent. Following the 2023-24 season, Luka Savicevic and Justin Vander Baan were named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court. The men's hoops program was crowned a Team of Academic Excellence for completing the year with a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

RECENT RENOVATIONS
Kirby Sports Center, the Leopards' home arena, has seen major upgrades over the past year. A state-of-the art Daktronics control and video display system can now be seen above center court, showcasing promotional team videos and updated branding to enhance the fan experience. By featuring Daktronics' latest version of Show and Venus Control Suite, it allows Lafayette to expand on in-game presentations. Lafayette fans may order birthday video board messages for display during the remaining home basketball games at tinyurl.com/yslx5esh.

OH CAPTAIN
TJ Berger and Justin Vander Baan will provide senior leadership for the Leopards in their second consecutive year as captains, aided by junior Ryan Pettit.

TOTALLY BOARD
Sophomore center Misha Bednostin collected a team- and career-high 15 rebounds in a win over Penn on Nov. 12.

PREVIOUS POSTINGS
Lafayette returns 10 players, including five seniors, most of whom saw significant playing time last season. 
The Maroon and White hosted a total of six non-conference games while traveling to seven opponents before conference play. Lafayette completed the first half of the year with a 5-8 record, including a 4-2 total at home. The Leopards concluded 2023-24 with an 11-21 (10-8 PL) overall record, advancing to the Patriot League Tournament's quarterfinal round. 

LAFAYETTE ON ESPN+
A reminder that the Patriot League is paired with ESPN and you will be able to find conference games on ESPN+ with the same high broadcast quality you've come to expect. ESPN+ is a subscription-based service that offers monthly and yearly packages. Visit plus.espn.com now to check out the bundles including live sports and originals.

SEASON TWO
Mike McGarvey took over as the 20th head coach in Lafayette men's basketball history on March 29, 2023, following a one-year tenure as the associate head coach and acting head coach. In 2022-23, he led the Leopards to Patriot League Tournament victories over Lehigh in the quarterfinal round and American in the semifinal, before falling to Colgate in the championship game.

He arrived on College Hill after a four-year tenure as the men's basketball head coach at Lycoming College where he led the program to three-straight MAC Freedom Conference championship games, including two conference crowns. 

McGarvey guided the Warriors to a remarkable resurgence in his second year as head coach, taking the team from a 5-11 conference record in 2018-19 to a 10-6 mark in 2019-20 while managing a roster filled with a school-record 11 freshmen.