Men's Basketball Drops PL Opener at Lafayette, 60-46

Thursday, January 2

Easton, PA

7 PM

Boston University

6-8,0-1Patriot

Lafayette

6-8,1-0Patriot

Boston U.

Lafayette

Men's Basketball Drops PL Opener at Lafayette, 60-46

January 2, 2025 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Coach Jones Postgame

EASTON, Pa. – Competing in the Patriot League opener, the Boston University men's basketball team fell at Lafayette, 60-46, on Thursday night.

Both squads finished below 33.0 percent shooting from the field, but the Leopards (6-8, 1-0 PL) were able to pull away in the second half by doubling the Terriers (6-8, 0-1 PL) in made 3-pointers, 8-4, and posting a 16-6 advantage in free throws.

Sophomore Kyrone Alexander totaled a game-high 14 points for BU, while senior Malcolm Chimezie also finished in double figures at 10 points. The duo joined graduate student Miles Brewster at eight rebounds, as the Terriers came up just short in the rebound battle to Lafayette, 43-41.

Alex Chaikin hit three 3-pointers en route to 14 points alongside six rebounds. Justin Vander Baan was two rebounds shy of a double-double with 10 points and three assists, while Andrew Phillips posted 12 points thanks in part to a 6-for-6 performance at the charity stripe.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Leopards started the game hitting their first four 3-point attempts to grab an early 14-8 lead with 16:09 left in the first half.
After junior Ben Roy fed Alexander for a layup to tie the game, 18-18, at 8:15, the Leopards went on an 11-2 run capped by Chaikin's trey with 2:11 remaining.
Caleb Williams responded to Roy's driving layup with a turnaround jumper to help Lafayette enter the locker room leading, 31-23.
BU had a strong start to the second half with Chimezie scoring seven points to prompt a quick timeout by the Leopards at 18:05.
Freshman Azmar Abdullah responded to a Lafayette jumper with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 14:11 and shortly thereafter flushed a 3-pointer and the bonus free throw to give BU its first lead of the game, 37-36, with 12:39 left in regulation.
After the teams exchanged blows over the next two minutes, Abdullah found sophomore Michael McNair for a 3-pointer and the Terriers' final lead of the game, 42-41.
BU though would not hit another field goal for over minutes, as the Leopards broke a 43-43 deadlock at 8:32 on a pair of free throws followed by Chaikin's defensive rebound and fastbreak 3-pointer.
The Leopards grabbed their first double-digit lead, 54-43, at 3:37 with Vander Baan hitting a jumper.
Brewster broke the scoring drought for BU at 1:09 on a layup and free throw to cut the deficit to 56-46, but Lafayette sealed the win by hitting all four free throw attempts during the final minute of regulation.

GAME NOTES

Alexander scored all 14 of his points in the first half and was limited to just two shot attempts over the final 20 minutes, as Abdullah scored all nine points to help BU grab the one-point lead.
Chimezie scored in double figures for the third time in four contests.
BU hurt its ability to build on positive momentum by shooting 6-for-14 (.429) from the charity stripe, while the Leopards went 16-for-21 (.762).
Posting a 25-16 advantage during the second half in rebounds with eight of the team's 11 total offensive rebounds, Lafayette became just the second opponent this season to haul in over 40 boards with 43 total after San Diego posted 41 back on Nov. 9.
BU now leads the all-time series, 20-11.

UP NEXT

The Terriers will return to Case Gym on Sunday (Jan. 5) to host Army West Point at 1 p.m.
The Black Knights have won the last three meetings, including a 69-59 decision at BU.