Terriers to Open PL Tournament With American at The Roof Thursday Night

Thursday, March 5

Boston, MA

7 PM

Boston University

American – PL Quarterfinal

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BU men's basketball head coach Joe Jones huddles with the five Terriers on the court.

Photo by: Trinity Robbins

Terriers to Open PL Tournament With American at The Roof Thursday Night

March 4, 2026 | Men's Basketball

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2026 PATRIOT LEAGUE QUARTERFINAL
#4 Boston University (15-16, 10-8 PL) vs. #5 American (16-15, 9-9 PL)
Date & Time: Thursday, March 5 | 7 p.m.
Venue: Case Gym – "The Roof" | Boston, Mass.
X: @BUGameDay | @TerrierMBB

BOSTON – Looking to carry momentum from its best performance in the month of February in 15 years, the No. 4 seeded Boston University men's basketball team will open the Patriot League tournament by hosting No. 5 American Thursday night with tip-off set for 7 p.m.

The teams will face off a second time in a week after the Terriers pulled out a 68-65 road victory last Saturday to finish the month at 7-1 and clinch the No. 4 seed. The Eagles won the first meeting at Case Gym back in January, 64-62.

TERRIER TIDBITS

Avoiding the first round for the 10th time in 12 years, BU is 54-38 (.587) all-time in conference tourneys and 11-11 in the PL with a pair of title game appearances (2014, 2020). BU and No. 3 seed Colgate are the only two teams to have participated in all 13 quarterfinals since the Terriers joined the PL in the summer of 2013.
The seven-time conference champion Terriers are 27-17 (.614) all-time in quarterfinal games following last year's 86-78 loss to eventual PL runner-up, Navy. BU is 11-5 (.688) in home PL matchups with OT losses in the 2017 and 2024 semifinals.
BU is 2-2 all-time as a No. 4 seed, reaching the 2010 America East title game at No. 2 Vermont thanks to an upset victory over No. 1 Stony Brook.
The Terriers will enter the contest as the only squad to have three players earn All-Patriot League recognition.
All-PL First Team honoree Michael McNair leads BU in scoring at 17.0 ppg with a single-season program-record 102 3-pointers that rank third all-time in the PL and currently ninth nationally this year. His 45.1 3FG% ranks sixth nationally as well, while his minutes per game average of 35:51 sits at No. 34.
All-PL Second Team member Ben Defty leads McNair in double-doubles, 6-3, by averaging a team-high 6.7 rpg alongside 14.8 ppg. His 52 blocks rank 45th.
All-PL Third Team member Chance Gladden is BU's first freshman to earn both All-PL and PL All-Rookie Team accolades in the same season since 2012-13. He leads the Terriers at 4.8 apg while averaging 14.0 ppg and ranking 28th at 89.1 FT%.
Freshman Sam Hughes (9.6 ppg) and sophomore Azmar Abdullah (8.5 ppg) have combined for 126 3-pointers to help BU rank 54th nationally at 9.6 made 3FGs per game and fifth in 3FG% (.395).
Overall, as a team, BU is averaging 76.0 ppg and what would be a program record 49.3 FG% while holding opponents to 74.0 ppg and 45.9 FG%.

SCOUTING AMERICAN

AU is 5-9 on the road with a 5-4 mark against PL squads that includes wins at BU, Army, Holy Corss, Bucknell and Lafayette. The Eagles are the only team to have posted a win against regular season champion Navy, a 65-51 home win back on Jan. 12.
Three Eagles are averaging double figures in points with All-PL Third and Rookie Team honoree Madden Collins owning a team-high 13.1 ppg alongside 1.2 spg.
Both All-PL Team honoree Greg Jones (12.5 ppg) and Julian Iturbe (10.4 ppg) are also in double figures with all three men averaging between 4.7-5.0 rpg.
AU is averaging 74.6 ppg and 44.7 FG% while holding opponents to 71.2 ppg and 46.1 FG%.

SERIES HISTORY

BU leads the all-time series, 17-11, after both road teams won by a combined five points during the regular season.
In the most recent matchup, Gladden and McNair combined for 43 points and seven assists with McNair adding a game-high 10 rebounds. BU shot 53.3 FG% and held the Eagles to 35.6 FG% to help overcome a 21-6 deficit in points off turnovers.
AU is 2-0 all-time against BU in the PL tournament, posting road victories in the 2014 title game and 2016 quarterfinal contest.

LOOKING AHEAD

The BU-American winner will face either No. 1 Navy or No. 8 Bucknell on Sunday (March 8) in the PL semifinals on CBS Sports Network.
The highest remaining seed will host the game at either 12 or 2 p.m.