OPENING TIP
Lafayette men's basketball continues the second round of Patriot League matchups against Lehigh, seeking the 150th series victory since 1902. In 2023-24, the two teams met twice in the regular season and once in the postseason, all of which resulted in wins for the Mountain Hawks. Saturday is a doubleheader Rivalry special as women's basketball plays at 2 p.m. in Kirby Sports Center.

Previously in the series, cold shooting beyond the arc left men's basketball an 86-47 loss to Lehigh on Jan. 25 in Stabler Arena. Lafayete was held scoreless from 3-point range on 22 attempts and shot 31.5 percent from the floor. Justin Vander Baan's 11 points led the Leopards alongside three rebounds and two blocks. Nasir Whitlock paced four opponents in double figures with 21 points as Lehigh out-rebounded Lafayette 41-24 overall.

Last time out, Lafayette dropped a 74-69 decision to Holy Cross in overtime on Wednesday night at the Hart Center. Luka Savicevic and Caleb Williams each netted a team-high 15 points overall. The Leopards dressed only eight players during this road trip, shorthanded due to illness and injury. This included the loss of floor general Mark Butler, who was the only player to start every game of the 2024-25 season until Feb. 19.

On Feb. 17, freshman guard Alex Chaikin received the second weekly conference honor of his collegiate career. 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, knocking down four 3-pointers and a team-high 7-of-11 from the foul line.

Next up, the Leopards host Army on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the final regular season home game of the year.

THE MATCHUP
Lehigh finished the 2023-24 regular season at 14-18 (9-9 PL) overall. The Mountain Hawks return 12
letterwinners and three starters while adding four newcomers. Senior guard Keith Higgins leads the squad with 17.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 1.4 apg. Lehigh is tied with three other teams, including Lafayette, in seventh place in the conference standings with a 5-10 record. First-years Hank Alvey and Edouard Benoit have carved out significant roles for the Mountain Hawks. Alvey has been the team's primary starting center, averaging 6.8 points and 4.7 rebounds, while Benoit has been shooting 44.4 percent from deep.

The Rivalry dates back nearly 123 years, as the first meeting between Lehigh and Lafayette took place in the 1901-02 season. The Leopards lead the all-time series 149-98, but the Mountain Hawks have won seven of the last 11 meetings, including the previous four consecutively.

WELCOME HOME
The Leopards are celebrating Alumni Day during this installment of the Rivalry. Lafayette offered activities including morning shootaround with the team and a lunch and film session before watching both the men's and women's games. On-court recognitions and a postgame pig roast are on the slate afterwards.

The following Lafayette championship teams have returned to Kirby for their respective anniversaries: 75th - 1950 Mid-3 Champions, 55th - 1970 ECC Champions, 50th - 1975 ECC Champions, 45th - 1980 ECC Champions, 25th - 2000 Patriot League Regular Season & Tournament Champions and 10th - 2015 Patriot League Tournament Champions. 

HAPPY SENIOR DAY
Seniors Devin Hines, TJ Berger, Justin Vander Baan, Chris Rubayo and Luka Savicevic were recognized before tip-off for their careers representing the Maroon and White.

BIG BLOCKER
Senior center Justin Vander Baan has blocked 66 shots this season, good for sixth in the country and first in the Patriot League. His 2.9 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 is first in the conference in blocks per game (3.4).

In three years wearing the Maroon and White, Vander Baan quickly climbed the program ranks to second all-time on College Hill with 172 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 (sixth highest amount in the conference). 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 (10.5) currently hold the streak.

PETTIT LARCENY
Junior guard Ryan Pettit has 40 steals in 28 games for the Leopards. The Westfield, N.J. native is third in 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 19.8. Freshmen Alex Chaikin (60, fourth) and Caleb Williams (49, 11th) 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. Up to Feb. 15, Mark Butler ranked seventh in the conference 40th in the NCAA with a 2.58 assist/turnover ratio. The Philadelphia, Pa. native dished 80 assists and kept to 31 turnovers so far this season before checking out due to injury versus Bucknell.

A GAME OF NUMBERS
The Leopards are 9-1 in games when leading at halftime compared to 1-17 when trailing going into the break. Lafayette is also 7-7 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.

FAMILIAR FOES
Lafayette has played 515 games against current Patriot League members. In conference play, the Leopards are 218-297 in the regular season and 25-31 in the Patriot League Tournament.

SHUFFLING STARTERS
Lafayette has used nine different starting lineups, featuring 10 athletes, through 28 contests. Sophomore guard Mark Butler was the only Leopard to start every game until Feb. 15, when he left the Bucknell contest due to injury. In the most used lineup (previously 10 consecutive games), 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. On Feb. 19, Pettit returned for Chaikin (illness) and Luka Savicevic stood in for Butler.

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 all remaining conference games on ESPN+ with the same high quality broadcast 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.