EASTON, Pa. — In a thrilling Patriot League Tournament opener, Justin Vander Baan’s strong performance propelled Lafayette to a narrow 69-68 victory over Holy Cross on Tuesday. Vander Baan led the Leopards with an impressive 25 points, complemented by 11 rebounds and five assists.
The tight contest saw Caleb Williams confidently step to the line and sink two crucial free throws with just four seconds on the clock, sealing the win for Lafayette. As a result of their victory, the seventh-seeded Leopards are set to face the second-seeded American team in the quarterfinal round this coming Thursday.
Vander Baan’s standout play was supported by Alex Chaikin, who contributed 18 points. Chaikin was efficient from the floor, hitting 6 of 11 shots, including 3 of 5 from three-point territory, and was nearly perfect from the free-throw line, converting 3 out of 4 attempts. Williams overcame shooting struggles from the field, finishing with 13 points after hitting 7 of 9 free throws.
On the other side, the 10th-seeded Holy Cross Crusaders were driven by Max Green’s performance, as he recorded 17 points, 12 rebounds, and two steals. Joe Nugent matched Green’s scoring output with 17 points of his own, while Caleb Kenney contributed with 14 points, four assists, and two blocks. Despite their efforts, Holy Cross fell just short of advancing.
