OPENING TIP
 The No. 7 Leopards travel to No. 2 American for a quarterfinal matchup in the 2025 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Championship this evening.

 Last time out, Lafayette outlasted No. 10 Holy Cross, 69-68, during the first-round matchup on Tuesday evening at Kirby Sports Center. Three Leopards finished in double figures, led by Justin Vander Baan's ninth career double-double (25 points and 11 rebounds). Freshman duo Alex Chaikin and Caleb Williams combined for 31 point and 10 assists. Williams netted the game-winning free throws, going 2-for-2 with four seconds on the clock. Lafayette did not give up a free throw to Holy Cross for the entirety of regulation. The Leopards tallied 15-of-21 attempts from the charity stripe.

 Three Leopards earned postseason All-Patriot League laurels on Monday afternoon. Senior center Justin Vander Baan was crowned the Defensive Player of the Year after a sensational season in the frontcourt. He was also listed on the Third Team and the All-Defensive Team. Alex Chaikin received All-Patriot League Third-Team and All-Rookie nods. Caleb Williams also secured an All-Rookie accolade.

 Previously in the series, the Maroon and White took Patriot League-leading American to the wire in a 60-58 loss on Feb. 10, aired live on CBS Sports Network. American's Matt Rogers was credited with the game-winning bucket, driving in for a mid-range jumper in the middle of the arc at the three-second mark, during the Eagles' final possession of the game. Andrew Phillips (17) and Alex Chaikin (16) were Lafayette's main options on the court as the only two in double figures.

 Lafayette concluded the 2024-25 regular season with a 12-19 (7-11 PL) record. With a victory, the Leopards advance to the semifinals on Sunday, March 9, playing the winner of No. 6 Army/No. 3 Colgate. Time and location have yet to be determined.

THE MATCHUP
American finished the 2023-24 regular season at 16-16 (10-8 PL) overall. The Eagles return 13 letterwinners and four starters while adding four newcomers. Graduate forward Matt Rogers leads the squad with 17.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 1.2 apg. American's 19 wins are its most overall victories since a 20-13 record in 2014-15 and the 13 Patriot League wins are the most since 2013-14, with both 2024-25 and 2013-14 tying 2008-09 for the most conference wins in program history. The Eagles became regular season Patriot League co-champions with Bucknell on March 1, but got the No. 2 seed via the league's tie-breaking procedures. Rogers was named to the All-PL First Team, senior Elijah Stephens earned All-PL Third-Team honors and sophomore Greg Jones was named to the PL's All-Defensive Team on March 3.

POSTSEASON GREETINGS
In the opening round of the 2025 PenFred Credit Union Patriot League Men's Basketball Championship, No. 9 Lehigh fell to No. 8 Loyola Maryland, 77-73, in Baltimore on March 4. The Greyhounds are set to face No. 1 Bucknell at 7 p.m. on Thursday. No. 6 Army will look to upset No. 3 Colgate on the road, similar to No. 5 Navy at No. 4 Boston U. The winner of 6/3 moves on to face the Lafayette/American victor in the semifinal round on Sunday. The second semifinal game will see 5/4 against 9/8/1 before the title match on Wednesday, March 12.

NEW HARDWARE
Senior center Vander Baan was crowned the Defensive Player of the Year and listed on the Third- and All-Defensive teams. The Northbridge Mass. native averaged 12.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.9 blocks per game in his final regular season run for Lafayette. Overall, he competed in 93 games while starting in 76 and scored 861 points and grabbed 467 rebounds. He blocked 76 shots in the regular season this winter, good for fifth in the country and first in the Patriot League, topping the NCAA from Jan. 16-20.

Chaikin, a freshman guard, received All-Patriot League Third-Team and All-Rookie nods. The Williamsburg, Va. native paced the Lafayette offense through the regular season with 13.3 points. He was most comfortable beyond the arc, shooting a team-high 45 percent on 150-plus attempts. Chaikin renewed his career-highs multiple times this season, finishing the winter with a season-high 27 points and seven rebounds at Army on Feb. 25. Chaikin also chipped in with a 2.5 rpg and 1.0 apg average in 30 games played. He was recognized by the conference three times as its Rookie of the Week on Dec. 1, Feb. 17 and Feb. 3. 

Williams, a first-year guard, also secured an All-Rookie accolades as he competed in all 31 games with 23 starts. He was one of three Leopards, alongside Vander Baan and Chaikin, to finish the season averaging in double figures with 11.0. The Jacksonville, Fla. contributed 3.6 rpg and 2.2 apg as well. He totaled a career- and team-high 20 points and nine rebounds during the 76-61 road victory at Colgate on Feb. 1. The Patriot League selected him as Rookie of the Week on Jan. 13 after averaging 13.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game to help the Leopards split the week, including an 82-65 victory over Holy Cross on Jan 11.

Lafayette has had at least one player on the Patriot League All-Rookie squad since 2019. Chaikin and Williams continued the streak as Mark Butler (2023-24), Josh Rivera (2022-23), CJ Fulton (2021-22) and Leo O'Boyle (2019-20) were all past Leopard honorees.

BIG BLOCKER
Senior center Justin Vander Baan has blocked 77 shots this season, good for fifth 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 183 career stops. After passing 2001 graduate Frank Barr's 160 blocks against American on Jan. 29, his sights are still set on first place (Robb Dill '04 with 191) through the remainder of postseason.

DOUBLE TROUBLE
Justin Vander Baan has six 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. In the opening round of the Patriot League tournament, Vander Baan dropped 25 points and 11 rebounds against Holy Cross. He leads the current Lafayette squad with nine 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 (12.6), Chaikin (13.5) and first-year Caleb Williams (11.1) currently hold the streak of scoring in double figures.

PETTIT LARCENY
Junior guard Ryan Pettit has 46 steals in 32 games for the Leopards. The Westfield, N.J. native is third in the conference in total steals and fifth in steals per game (1.5). 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 18.4. Freshmen Alex Chaikin (72, 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 150-plus 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.

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

PASS THE ROCK
Lafayette is currently second in the Patriot League for its 1.3 assist/turnover ratio and first for its 14.6 assists per game. Up to Feb. 15, Mark Butler ranked seventh in the conference and 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 2-18 when trailing going into the break. Lafayette is also 10-7 when winning the opening tip-off, but 3-12 if it goes to the opponent. In games decided by three points or less, men's hoops is 2-6 in 2024-25, five losses of which came in the Patriot League stretch.

FAMILIAR FOES
Lafayette has played 518 games against current Patriot League members. In conference play, the Leopards are 219-298 in the regular season and 26-31 in the Patriot League Tournament, including a 13-5 home record. In the previous season's conference tournament, Lafayette was eliminated by Lehigh, 76-61, in the quarterfinal round on March 7, 2024 after securing the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye.

SHUFFLING STARTERS
Lafayette has used 11 different starting lineups, featuring 11 athletes, through 32 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
Alex Chaikin earned the final regular-season Rookie of the Week laurel on Monday afternoon. He averaged 25.5 points and 3.5 rebounds, shooting 54 percent (15-of-28) from the field, including 54 percent (7-of-13) from long distance during the Leopards' 1-1 week. Chaikin renewed his career-high to 27 points, hitting four 3-pointers in the 81-65 win over Army on Feb. 25. He finished with 24 points and four boards in a 66-64 loss at Boston University to conclude the regular season.

On Feb. 17, 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 select postseason 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.