Terriers Win 75-73 Thriller Over American in PL Quarterfinal

Thursday, March 5

Boston, MA

7 PM

Boston University

16-16,10-8Patriot

American – PL Quarterfinal

16-16,9-9Patriot

American

Boston U.

Photo by: Dan Koerner

Terriers Win 75-73 Thriller Over American in PL Quarterfinal

March 5, 2026 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Highlights Coach Jones Postgame Gladden-Defty Postgame

BOSTON - Freshman Chance Gladden connected on a step-back jumper in the closing seconds to lift the fourth-seeded Boston University men's basketball team to a thrilling 75-73 victory over fifth-seeded American in the Patriot League quarterfinals on Thursday evening at Case Gym.

Despite 22 lead changes in the contest, the Terriers (16-16) were on top for the majority and held a four-point lead with under a minute to play. The Eagles (16-16) stormed back, and the BU had the ball with 16 seconds left to set the stage for Gladden's heroics from the right side.

Shooting an impressive 10-for-13 in the paint, sophomore Ben Defty had team highs in points (20), rebounds (7), assists (4) and blocks (3). Gladden added 16 points, while classmate Donte Tisinger Jr. contributed 13 with a perfect 3-for-3 in 3-point territory alongside two steals. Junior Michael McNair capped four Terriers in double figures with 12 points and six rebounds.

Collins led the Eagles with 22 points and two steals, while Julen Iturbe recorded 12 points. Greg Jones was the third AU member to score in double figures, posting 11 points alongside a team-high seven rebounds. Jones's 3-pointer at 5:19 in the second half gave BU the opportunity to win for just the second time this season (2-12) when trailing with under five minutes to play in regulation.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first half saw 12 lead changes with Tisinger retaking the lead at 11:47 on a step-back jumper to spark a 8-0 run capped by his steal and 3-pointer at 10:24.
Tisinger fed Defty for a layup with 8:47 left in the half to keep the lead at seven (23-16), but then Matt Mayock scored from behind the arc, as the Eagles went on a 9-0 spurt finished by a jumper at 6:08 for the 25-23 advantage.
McNair responded to an AU 3-pointer with one of his own four minutes later for a 36-34 lead, and Gladden finished the half on a buzzer-beating jumper to enter the locker room ahead, 40-36.
The Terriers carried the momentum into the second half with Hughes converting on his own steal with a 3-pointer at 17:16 for a 47-38 lead.
AU charged right back with a 13-2 run capped by a 3-pointer at 12:11 to retake the lead, 51-49.
The two teams went back and forth the rest of regulation with Tisinger netting a 3-pointer for a 71-66 lead at 1:30.
Collins though responded with a layup and bonus free throw before adding a layup at 40 seconds to pull within two, 73-71.
Keeping the pressure up on BU, Collins forced a turnover, and Iturbe tied the game at 16 seconds on a pair of free throws, 73-73.
BU did not call timeout, and Gladden stepped up with a jumper for the thrilling win.

GAME NOTES

Besides eclipsing 200 rebounds and increasing his No. 2 nationally ranked field goal shooting percentage to 68.8 FG%, Defty totaled at least 20 points for the fifth time this season.
Defty also moved up to sole possession of No. 6 slot in the program record book at 55 blocks.
Tisinger scored in double figures for the sixth time and first since tallying 13 at Army back on Feb. 11.
Already the program record holder for wins set with win against Holy Cross on Feb. 25, head coach Joe Jones reached 250 career victories at BU.
Shooting 10-for-19 from behind the arc, BU shattered the 2009-10 squad's 300 3-pointers made over 35 games for a new program record at 307 total.
Both teams shot over 60 percent in the first half with BU ending the contest above 60.0 FG% for the sixth time at 32-for-53 (.604), while the Eagles went 31-for-60 (.517).
AU outscored the Terriers off turnovers, 24-15, and in the paint, 48-40, though BU doubled the Eagles in made 3-pointers, 10-5.
BU eliminated the Eagles in the PL tournament for the first time after AU won the 2014 title game and the 2016 quarterfinal matchup on the Terriers' campus.
All top four seeds won at home in the quarterfinal with Navy holding off No. 8 Bucknell, 74-69, and No. 2 Lehigh stunning No. 10 Holy Cross on a 3-point heave steps behind mid-court. No. 3 Colgate had the lone double-digit win against No. 6 Loyola Maryland, 90-77.

UP NEXT

BU will next visit top-seeded Navy in the PL semifinals on Sunday (March 8) at 2 p.m. in a game that will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.
The programs will meet for the third consecutive year after they split the two quarterfinal matchups held at Case Gym with BU winning in 2024 and the Midshipmen prevailing in 2025.
The teams are tied, 2-2, all-time in PL tourney action with Navy winning the lone semifinal clash at home, 85-80, in overtime back in 2022 after BU posted a 69-63 home victory in the 2020 quarterfinal.