WORCESTER, Mass. – No. 10 American defeated No. 7 Holy Cross, 69-63, and No. 9 Bucknell outlasted No. 8 Lafayette, 82-81 in overtime in a dramatic first round of the 2022 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men’s Basketball Championship on Tuesday night.
 
The Eagles advance to take on No. 2 Navy at Alumni Hall in Annapolis, Md. The Bison will meet regular-season champion and No. 1 seed Colgate at Cotterell Court in Hamilton, N.Y.
 
No. 3 Boston University will host No. 6 Loyola Maryland, with No. 4 Lehigh welcoming No. 5 Army West Point. All four quarterfinal-round games will be played on Thursday, March 3 on ESPN+ with live coverage beginning at 7 p.m.
 
CLICK HERE for more information on the 2022 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men’s Basketball Championship.
 

DATE	MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP | ROUND | COVERAGE	TIME (all times ET)
Thursday, March 3	No.9 Bucknell at No. 1 Colgate | Quarterfinals | ESPN+	7 p.m.
Thursday, March 3	No. 10 American at No. 2 Navy | Quarterfinals | ESPN+	7 p.m.
Thursday, March 3	No. 6 Loyola Maryland  at No. 3 Boston University | Quarterfinals | ESPN+	7 p.m.
Thursday, March 3	No. 5 Army West Point at No. 4 Lehigh  | Quarterfinals | ESPN+	7 p.m.
Sunday, March 6	Winner of 9/8/1 vs. Winner of 5/4 | Semifinals | CBSSN	2 p.m./4 p.m.
Sunday, March 6	Winner of 10/7/2 vs. Winner of 6/3 | Semifinals | CBSSN	2 p.m./4 p.m.
Wednesday, March 9	2022 PenFed Credit Union Championship Game | CBSSN	7:30 p.m.

 
NO. 10 AMERICAN EAGLES (10-21, 5-13 PL) 69, AT NO. 7 HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS (9-22, 7-11 PL) 63
Hart Center/Worcester, Mass.               7 p.m. (ESPN+)
BOX SCORE
WORCESTER, Mass. – Senior guard Stacy Beckton Jr. scored a game-high 22 points and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds to lead No. 10 American to a 69-63 victory No. 7 Holy Cross at Hart Center.
*Beckton shot 9-of-15 from the floor to help the Eagles beat the Crusaders for the third time this season and advance to a quarterfinal-round matchup against No. 2 Navy.
*Eagles’ freshman guard Elijah Stephens finished with 12 points and a career-high eight assists, while senior forward Josh Alexander chipped in 10 points. 
*Holy Cross senior forward Gerrale Gates recorded his 14th double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He also blocked five shots and dished out three assists to lead the Crusaders.
*Patriot League Rookie of the Year Kyrell Luc added 14 points and four assists, while sophomore guard Judson Martindale added 13 points off the bench.
RECAPS: AMERICAN | HOLY CROSS
 
NO. 9 BUCKNELL BISON (9-22, 5-13 PL) 82, AT NO. 8 LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS (10-20, 7-11 PL) 81 (OT)
Kirby Sports Center/Easton, Pa.            7 p.m. (ESPN+)
BOX SCORE
EASTON, Pa. – Senior guard Andrew Funk’s jumper with 16 seconds remaining in overtime proved to be the game-winner, as No. 9 Bucknell defeated No. 8 Lafayette, 82-81, at Kirby Sports Center on Tuesday night.
*Funk finished with 21 points, seven assists and five rebounds to help the Bison prevail in the third overtime meeting between the Bison and Leopards this season. He connected on 9-of-15 from the floor and 3-of-6 from deep.
*Sophomore center Andre Screen scored 16 points and pulled down five boards, while junior forward Malachi Rhodes and Alex Timmerman scored 12 points apiece.
*Lafayette senior guard Tyrone Perry scored a game-high 22 points, while junior center Neal Quinn added 18 points, seven assists, six rebounds, three steals and three blocks.
*Sophomore forward Kyle Jenkins chipped in 17 points and nine boards, while sophomore guard Jon Brantley contributed 12 points off the bench.
*Tuesday’s game marks the final in the career of Lafayette Head Coach Fran O’Hanlon, who won 362 games and three League titles during his decorated 27-year career on College Hill.
RECAPS: BUCKNELL | LAFAYETTE
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athlete can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.