EASTON, Pa. – Highlighted by a season-high seven blocks and sophomore Otto Landrum's 26-point performance, the Boston University men's basketball team posted a 62-48 victory at Patriot League standings leader Lafayette on Saturday afternoon.

After a first half featuring five lead changes and three ties, the Terriers (8-13, 3-5 PL) clamped down defensively and held the Leopards (8-13, 7-1 PL) to just 22.2 FG% over the final 20 minutes to pull away for the victory. BU finished with a 7-5 advantage in made 3-pointers and 11-9 lead in free throws to avenge the 59-51 home loss at Case Gym back on Jan. 6.

Landrum went 9-of-14 from the field, including 3-of-4 in 3-point territory and 5-of-6 at the charity stripe, to top his previous high of 19 points set earlier this season against both Bryant and Wagner. He was one rebound shy of his second career double-double and matched classmate Nico Nobili at three blocks apiece. Junior Ethan Okwuosa and freshman Matai Baptiste combined for 12 points and 11 boards, and senior Miles Brewster dished out five assists.

All 10 Leopards scored but none of them reached double figures, as Lafayette finished the contest 17-of-54 (.315). Justin Vander Baan recorded eight points, eight rebounds and two blocks, while both Eric Sondberg and Joshua Wyche tallied seven points apiece. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• BU started the game 1-of-5 with a pair of turnovers but only found itself down, 6-5, when freshman Kyrone Alexander hit a layup and bonus free throw on sophomore Ben Roy's in-bounds pass from underneath the basket.
• Wyche scored back-to-back buckets to grab Lafayette's largest lead, 15-9, with 10:29 remaining in the half.
• The Terriers responded with a 10-3 spurt over the next three minutes keyed by 3-pointers from Landrum and junior Ben Palacios.
• Mark Butler tied the game for the final time, 25-25, on a driving layup at 1:54 before quickly committing a shooting foul against Roy.
• Roy gave BU the lead for good with two free throws, as Landrum added a layup a Brewster drained a 3-pointer before the buzzer to enter the locker room ahead, 32-25.
• After Vander Baan started the second half with a layup, BU scored eight straight to grab a 40-27 advantage following Palacios' second trey and Okwuosa's jumper at 13:26.
• The Leopards clawed their way back to within six, 44-38, six minutes later, but Okwuosa found Baptiste for a shot from behind the arc to spark a 10-0 run capped by Landrum's third trey at 4:14.
• Lafayette overcame a 16-point second half deficit to Bucknell in overtime one week prior but was unable to stage any late-game heroics for the loss.

GAME NOTES

• BU has now had four 20+ point performances over the last six games after starting the season without a 20+ point scorer through the first 15 contests.
• Landrum joined both Brewster and senior Anthony Morales (2x) in hitting the mark for the first time in their careers this January.
• BU's seven blocks marked the most since earning seven at Holy Cross on Feb. 15, 2023.
• The Terriers improved to 20-10 all-time against Lafayette and prevented the Leopards from earning their first-ever regular season sweep in the series.

UP NEXT

• Quick turnaround for the Terriers, as they will visit in-state rival Holy Cross on Monday (Jan. 29) with the CBS Sports Network broadcast set for 7 p.m.
• Holy Cross captured both Turnpike Trophy points last season, including a 71-69 buzzer-beating victory at home on a putback following Landrum's block.