Boston University’s men’s basketball team secured home-court advantage in the upcoming Patriot League tournament with a hard-fought 68-65 victory over defending champion American University on Saturday. The Terriers, now positioned at 15 wins and 16 losses overall and 10-8 in the Patriot League, demonstrated their resilience and strategic depth throughout the game.
The Terriers jumped out to a commanding start, building a 22-point lead early in the match and heading into halftime with a 15-point advantage. Central to their offensive strategy was sophomore forward Ben Defty, who despite facing heavy double teams from the Eagles, continued to draw attention and create opportunities. Coach Joe Jones emphasized the need to capitalize on the openings created by American’s defensive focus on Defty, stating, “We’ve got to try to get that ball to the open man.”
Taking full advantage of those opportunities were junior guard Michael McNair and freshman guard Chance Gladden. The duo combined for an impressive 43 points, showcasing their shooting prowess by connecting on 14 of 21 attempts from the field, including 6 of 10 from beyond the arc. McNair particularly shone in the first half, hitting four three-pointers, three of which came off the dribble, further solidifying his strong shooting season.
However, the Eagles struck back before the halftime break, ending the first half on a seven-point run that shifted the momentum. As the second half commenced, American narrowed the gap to just nine points within the first three minutes.
“This was not easy. I don’t care how we got it, as long as we got it,” Coach Jones reflected. He acknowledged the challenge posed by American, a team that had proven its mettle as the reigning champions.
American’s sophomore forward Julen Iturbe was instrumental in their comeback attempt, leading his team with 17 points and successfully scoring from both inside and out. The Terriers previously attempted to recruit Iturbe, and Coach Jones remarked on his significant contributions during the game. “You know, he got off eight 3s, so that’s one thing we’ve got to watch,” he noted.
In moments when the Terriers’ offense struggled, Gladden emerged as a pivotal player, hitting crucial shots. His layup with less than two minutes to go provided the Terriers with the lead that ultimately secured the victory.
The win positions Boston University to host American in a rematch in the first round of the Patriot League tournament at Case Gym on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Terriers are set to leverage their recent experience and the home advantage as they look to continue their playoff aspirations. The upcoming game promises to be an exciting showdown as both teams aim to assert their dominance in the league.