OPENING TIP
Lafayette concludes the 2024-25 regular season at Boston U., looking to end on a three-game win streak.

Previously in the series, the Leopards led Boston U. for 35 minutes in pocketing a 60-46 Patriot League-opening victory on Jan. 2 in Kirby Sports Center. Freshman guard Alex Chaikin led three Leopards in double figures with 14 points and six rebounds. Andrew Phillips (12) and Justin Vander Baan (10) followed his performance and combined for a perfect 8-of-8 from the foul line. Overall, Lafayette shot 76.2 percent from the charity stripe on 21 attempts while Boston went 6-for-14. 

Last time out, Lafayette controlled the evening against Army in a crucial 81-65 Patriot League win on Tuesday at Kirby Sports Center. Alex Chaikin scored 27 points on a 7-of-16 outing from the floor and added four long-distance buckets. The Williamsburg, Va. native additionally nailed a career-high nine attempts from the charity stripe to help Lafayette go 20-for-25 overall. Justin Vander Baan earned his second straight double-double on 11 points and 11 rebounds against the Black Knights. He holds a team-high eight under his career belt, five of which have come this season.

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 are set to host Loyola Md., Lehigh or Holy Cross at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the first round of the 2025 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men's Basketball Championship.

THE MATCHUP
Boston U. finished the 2023-24 regular season at 16-17 (10-8 PL) overall. The Terriers return 12 players, including
five starters, while adding three newcomers to a program that finished tied for second last year.

In conference play, Boston is 8-0 at home and 1-8 on the road with three of the losses being decided by six points or less, including a 69-67 defeat at Loyola Maryland on Feb. 19. Three Terriers are currently averaging double digits in points with sophomore Kyrone Alexander leading the way at 12.9 ppg alongside 5.1 rpg, 2.0 apg and 1.2 spg. He remains the lone player to have claimed a double-double this season. Boston is also riding a 10-game home win streak that dates back to non-conference play on Dec. 1, 2024. 

POSTSEASON GREETINGS
Lafayette is set to host Loyola Md., Lehigh or Holy Cross at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the first round of the 2025 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men's Basketball Championship. The Maroon and White are locked in as the No. 7 seed in the Patriot League standings and will learn of its opponent on Saturday at the conclusion of the final five Patriot League regular-season games.

For the Patriot League Tournament opening round, ESPN+ will provide live coverage of the action inside Kirby Sports Center. Fans are encouraged to wear white for a WHITEOUT theme in the stands and the first 100 students who enter the student section on Tuesday will get a free t-shirt. 

The winner of Tuesday's battle moves on and travels to play the No. 2 seed in the quarterfinal round. The semifinal round will be played Sunday, March 9 before the title game, scheduled for Wednesday, March 12. 

BIG BLOCKER
Senior center Justin Vander Baan has blocked 72 shots this season, good for seventh 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 (3.5).

In three years wearing the Maroon and White, Vander Baan quickly climbed the program ranks to second all-time on College Hill with 178 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 five double-doubles to his name this season (fourth 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. In the 150th Rivalry win versus Lehigh, he netted 17 points and collected 10 rebounds. After that, he contributed 11 points and 11 rebounds against Army on Feb. 25. He leads the current Lafayette squad with eight 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 (12.2), Chaikin (12.9) and first-year Caleb Williams (10.9) currently hold the streak.

PETTIT LARCENY
Junior guard Ryan Pettit has 41 steals in 30 games for the Leopards. The Westfield, N.J. native is sixth in the conference in total steals and in steals per game (1.4). He made a career-high four heists at George Washington on Dec. 18.

FIRST-YEAR FAVORITES
Lafayette is fifth in the Patriot League in bench points per game at 19.3. Freshmen Alex Chaikin (66, third) stands out in the conference for his total 3-pointers. Chaikin leads the Leopard squad in three-point shooting, knocking down 45 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 14.5 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 on Feb. 15.

A GAME OF NUMBERS
The Leopards are 11-1 in games when leading at halftime compared to 1-17 when trailing going into the break. Lafayette is also 9-7 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 517 games against current Patriot League members. In conference play, the Leopards are 220-297 in the regular season and 25-31 in the Patriot League Tournament.

SHUFFLING STARTERS
Lafayette has used 11 different starting lineups, featuring 11 athletes, through 30 contests. Sophomore guard Mark Butler was the only Leopard to start every game until Feb. 15. 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. While hosting Lehigh, TJ Berger made his first start of the season. 

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. 

TOTALLY BOARD
Sophomore center Misha Bednostin collected a team- and career-high 15 rebounds in a win over Penn on Nov. 12. His boards against the Quakers still stand as a season-high for the entire Leopards squad in 2024-25.

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.

ALUMNI IN THE PROS
On Dec. 21, 2024, 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. 

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. 

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.