PatriotMBB Notebook (.PDF) | Championship Digital Program

THIS WEEK IN PATRIOT LEAGUE MEN’S BASKETBALL (AND WHERE TO WATCH)
First-round action of the 2024-25 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men’s Basketball Championship begins on Tuesday night with two games. No. 7 Lafayette hosts No. 10 Holy Cross, and No. 8 Loyola Maryland welcomes No. 9 Lehigh. Live coverage of both games begins at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
 
The winner of the No. 10 Holy Cross at No. 7 Lafayette will travel to No. 2 American in Thursday night’s quarterfinal round. The winner of No. 9 Lehigh at No. 8 Loyola Maryland will face top-seeded Bucknell at Sojka Pavilion. Both games tip-off at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
 
Two more Patriot League men’s basketball quarterfinal-round games are on Thursday, with No. 3 Colgate hosting No. 6 Army West Point, and No. 4 Boston University welcoming No. 5 Navy. Live coverage of both games begins at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
 
For more information on Patriot League men’s basketball dates, times and coverage, visit the men’s basketball composite schedule on the League’s official website - www.PatriotLeague.org.
 
CLICK HERE for more information on the 2025 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men’s Basketball Championship. To view the 2025 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Championship Digital Program, CLICK HERE.
 

DATE	MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP | ROUND | COVERAGE	TIME  (all times ET)
Tuesday, March 4	No. 10 Holy Cross at No. 7 Lafayette | First Round | ESPN+	7 p.m.
Tuesday, March 4	No. 9 Lehigh at No. 8 Loyola Maryland | First Round | ESPN+	7 p.m.
Thursday, March 6	Winner of 9/8 at No. 1 Bucknell | Quarterfinals | ESPN+	7 p.m.
Thursday, March 6	Winner of 10/7 at No. 2 American | Quarterfinals | ESPN+	7 p.m.
Thursday, March 6	No. 6 Army West Point at No. 3 Colgate | Quarterfinals | ESPN+	7 p.m.
Thursday, March 6	No. 5 Navy at No. 4 Boston University | Quarterfinals | ESPN+	7 p.m.
Sunday, March 9	Winner of 9/8/1 vs. Winner of 5/4 | Semifinals | CBSSN	Noon. / 2 p.m.
Sunday, March 9	Winner of 10/7/2 vs. Winner of 6/3 | Semifinals | CBSSN	Noon / 2 p.m.
Wednesday, March 12	2025 PenFed Credit Union Championship Game | CBSSN	7 p.m.

 
NO. 10 HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS (13-18, 5-13 PL) AT NO. 7 LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS (12-19, 7-11 PL)
Kirby Sports Center/Easton, Pa.                                      7 p.m. (ESPN+)
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS | CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM
SEASON SERIES: Lafayette and Holy Cross split the season series, with each team protecting its home court. The Leopards defeated the Crusaders, 82-65, on Jan. 11. Holy Cross earned a 74-69 win in overtime on Feb. 19.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORD: The Leopards and Crusaders meet for the 80th time in series history, with Holy Cross holding a 42-37 advantage.  
GAME ONE (Jan. 11, 2025 – BOX SCORE): At Lafayette 82, Holy Cross 65 - Senior center Justin Vander Baan led five Leopards in double figures with 18 points in Lafayette’s 82-65 victory over Holy Cross at Kirby Sports Center. Vander Baan added six rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots. Freshmen guards Caleb Williams and Alex Chaikin finished with 15 and 10 points, respectively. Holy Cross was led by sophomore guard Joe Nugent, who finished with 18 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the floor, while senior forward Caleb Kenney posted 14 points, six rebounds and two assists.
GAME TWO (Feb. 19, 2025 – BOX SCORE): At Holy Cross 74, Lafayette 69 (OT) -  Freshman guard Max Green scored eight of his 18 points in overtime to lead Holy Cross to a 74-69 victory over Lafayette at Hart Center. Holy Cross outscored the Leopards, 18-13, in overtime, shooting 62.5 percent from the floor and 60 percent from beyond the arc to snap a two-game slide. Sophomore guard Kahlil Singleton scored a game-high 19 points off the bench, while Kenney added 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Leopards’ sophomore forward Andrew Phillips recorded his first collegiate double-double with 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
PREVIEWS: HOLY CROSS | LAFAYETTE
 
NO. 9 LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (11-18, 6-12 PL) AT NO. 8 LOYOLA MARYLAND GREYHOUNDS (11-18, 6-12 PL)
Reitz Arena/Baltimore, Md.                                               7 p.m. (ESPN+)
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS | CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM
SEASON SERIES: Loyola Maryland swept the season series, downing Lehigh, 80-74, on Jan. 5 at home and earning a 76-60 victory at Stabler Arena on Jan. 18.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORD: Lehigh and Loyola Maryland will meet for the 35th time in series history, with the matchup tied at 17 wins apiece.
GAME ONE (Jan. 5 – BOX SCORE) - At Loyola Maryland 80, Lehigh 74 - Sophomore guard Jordan Stiemke scored a career-high 25 points to lead Loyola Maryland to an 80-74 victory over Lehigh in a game that saw 11 lead changes. Stiemke came off the bench to shoot 9-of-14 from the floor and 6-for-6 from the charity stripe. He also grabbed seven rebounds to help the Greyhounds improve to 1-1 in League play. Lehigh sophomore guard Cam Gillus matched a game-high 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. He added eight rebounds and six steals.
GAME TWO (Jan. 18 – BOX SCORE) – Loyola Maryland 76, at Lehigh 60 - Senior center Veljko Ilic came off the bench to lead five Greyhounds in double-figures with 15 points as Loyola Maryland swept the season series against Lehigh with a 76-60 win at Stabler Arena.
*Ilic added a team-high nine rebounds, while senior center Milos Ilic posted 14 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Greyhounds. Lehigh’s Gillus and first-year forward Edouard Benoit led the Mountain Hawks with 15 points apiece.
PREVIEWS: LEHIGH | LOYOLA MARYLAND
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes 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 who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.