Lehigh Wins Patriot League Championship
- © Keystone Sports Extra
- 7 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Bethlehem, PA - March 11, 2026: The Lehigh University men’s basketball team, the 2nd seed in the Patriot League Tournament, easily defeated Boston University, the 4th seed, 74-60 Wednesday evening in the final at a sold out Stabler Arena.
It was a total team effort for the Mountain Hawks as four players scored in double digits. Nasir Whitlock led Lehigh with 18 points, Joshua Ingram and Edouard Benoit each scored 15, and Hank Alvey scored 14 points. Andrew Urosevic scored 5, Jalen Vazquez scored 4, and Peter Kramer scored 3. Alvey led the Mountain Hawks with 9 rebounds.
After winning the opening tip, Benoit went in for a layup to open the scoring and give Lehigh the early lead. Benoit, moments later, gave hit a 3-pointer to give Lehigh a 5-0 lead. As Boston tried to defend the hot hand, another Lehigh player would go on a run.
Boston would fight back on two layups, one by Michael McNair and another by Ben Defty, to put the Terriers ahead 6-5. Boston would extend their lead moments later (8-5) after another Defty layup, as it seemed the big guy was going to have his way in the paint. He would finish the game with 21 points to lead all scorers.
Midway through the first half, the teams had exchanged baskets as Lehigh came back to make it close. Alvey now stepped up, scoring on a layup and then a jumper, to put the Mountain Hawks back up 18-14.
Later in the first, Lehigh would extend their lead to 21-16 before Boston would once again close the gap with about seven minutes to play, 24-22 Lehigh.
Whitlock then sparked the offense with 9 points down the stretch of the first half, giving Lehigh a 41-30 lead at the break.
In the second half, Lehigh continued to move the ball around well. The Boston defense had some issues covering the hot hand as the Lehigh players stepped up at the right time. Boston also went cold from the 3-point line. The Terrirers were only 1 for 16 from 3-point range. Lehigh would not give up the lead in the second half, and in fact, essentially sealed the win with just under five minutes remaining (64-45).
The Lehigh win gave them their fourth Patriot League Championship. The Mountain Hawks won it all in 2004, 2010 and 2012. This was Coach Brett Reed’s third title in 19 years at the helm.
Lehigh will await the NCAA tournament selection show on Sunday, March 15, to learn who and where they will play next.
