Lehigh Wins Fourth Patriot League Championship In 74-60 Victory Over Boston University

Wednesday, March 11

Bethlehem, Pa.

7:00 PM

Lehigh University

18-16,11-7Patriot

Boston University

17-17,10-8Patriot

Boston U.

Lehigh

Photo by: Hannah Ally

Lehigh Wins Fourth Patriot League Championship In 74-60 Victory Over Boston University

3/12/2026 12:33:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – In front of a packed Stabler Arena crowd of 4,323, Lehigh men's basketball brought home the 2026 Patriot League Championship in a 74-60 win over the Boston University Terriers on Wednesday evening. Four Mountain Hawks scored in double-figures to lead a balanced offensive and defensive performance in the victory.

THE LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS ARE YOUR 2025-26 PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 🏆#GoLehigh pic.twitter.com/fHp7jtOwkv
— Lehigh Men's Basketball (@LehighMBB) March 12, 2026

"I'm incredibly proud of this team," said Murray H. Goodman '48 head coach Brett Reed. "They decided to have unity, they decided to put everything else aside, believe in what we are doing, believe in each other, and now we get the rewards and benefits of it. These kids have worked so hard and they've earned this moment."

After being picked eighth in the Patriot League preseason poll, Lehigh (18-16, 11-7 PL) has won its fourth overall Patriot League title and third under the direction of Reed. The Mountain Hawks will compete in March Madness for the first time since 2012.

Edouard Benoit opened the game scoring five-straight points for the Mountain Hawks on a hook shot and catch-and-shoot three. The Terriers (17-17) responded with an 8-0 run before another Benoit triple tied the game 8-8. BU earned a four-point advantage before the Mountain Hawks regained a 15-12 lead on a 7-0 run at the under 12 media timeout.

Lehigh extended its lead to five on a bucket from Hank Alvey out of the break before the Terriers trimmed their deficit to one on two buckets from Michael McNair. After Nasir Whitlock knocked down two at the line, a Jalen Vazquez triple gave Lehigh a six-point advantage with 7:08 to go. Peter Kramer drilled a corner three that put Lehigh up by seven with 3:47 to play in the first half.

Joshua Ingram knocked down a three with under three minutes to go in the half, giving Lehigh a 38-28 advantage and forcing a BU timeout. Two Ben Defty free throws brought BU within eight, but a Whitlock triple in the final seconds of the first half sent Lehigh to locker room leading 41-30.

👀 @LehighMBB's Nasir Whitlock is at it again! Tune in for second-half action on @CBSSportsNet. @MarchMadnessMBB pic.twitter.com/h6wo7igaxL
— Patriot League (@PatriotLeague) March 12, 2026

The Mountain Hawks held a ten-point advantage through the first media timeout of the second half. A Chance Gladden bucket trimmed BU's deficit to eight before Kramer rose up to block the seven-foot Defty, allowing Benoit to extend the lead to 11 on an and-one finish. A Vazquez free throw pushed the Lehigh lead to twelve out of the under 12 media timeout.

After a pair of Azmar Abdullah free throws set the score at 50-40, Andrew Urosevic connected on a three off an offensive rebound to extend the lead to 13. Lehigh's lead ballooned to 16 on buckets from Alvey and Ingram with under eight minutes remaining in the game.

Two Whitlock free throws extended Lehigh's advantage to 17 with under five minutes remaining in the game. The Mountain Hawks led by as many as 21 before BU trimmed the lead down to 12, but it was all little too late. Lehigh made its free throws in the final minutes to clinch the championship victory.

LEHIGH IS GOING DANCING!

They defeat BU 74-60 in the @PatriotLeague Conference Tournament Championship Game and punch their ticket to the dance! pic.twitter.com/wvFvC2yiLa
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 12, 2026

Lehigh posted shooting splits of 43.6% (24-55) from the field, 47.4% (9-19) from three, and 70.8% (17-24) from the free throw line. Despite entering the game shooting over 40% from three as a team, BU was limited to just 6.3% (1-16) from distance. The Mountain Hawks won the battle on the glass 36-31, moving Lehigh's record to a perfect 12-0 when they outrebound their opponent.

"The signature of a team that's going to win a championship is one that can defend," said Reed. "It's all of our guys buying in to try to do it together."

Whitlock paced the Mountain Hawks offensively, scoring 18 points to go along with four assists, three rebounds, and a steal. Whitlock was named Tournament MVP after

Ingram finished the night with 15 points, six rebounds, three triples, and two blocks. Benoit provided 15 points on 5-10 shooting with seven rebounds and a steal. Alvey posted a near double-double of 14 points and nine rebounds to go along with five rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. Both Ingram and Alvey were named to the Patriot League All-Tournament team.

Defty led the Terriers with a game-high 21 points while McNair (14p), Gladden (11p), and Donte Tisinger Jr. (10p) also reached double-figures for BU.

The Mountain Hawks now await Sunday's selection show to see their seeding and opponent in the NCAA Tournament.

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2026 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men's Basketball Championship MVP – Nasir Whitlock, Lehigh, Jr. G

2026 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men's Basketball All-Tournament Team -
Nasir Whitlock, Lehigh, Jr., G
Hank Alvey, Lehigh, So., F/C
Joshua Ingram, Lehigh, Jr., G/F
Chance Gladden, Boston University, Fr., G
Ben Defty, Boston University, So., F/C
Aidan Kehoe, Navy, Sr., C