Courtesy of PatriotLeague.com
HAMILTON, N.Y. – No. 1 Colgate defeated No. 6 Lehigh, 74-55, on Wednesday night at Cotterell Court in Hamilton, N.Y., to claim their record seventh Patriot League men’s basketball title and punch their ticket to the NCAA DI Men’s Basketball Championship.
The Raiders earned their fifth Patriot League title in the last six seasons, while head coach Matt Langel tied Lafayette’s Fran O’Hanlon for the league’s career tournament wins record with 21. Colgate’s seven league titles move them in front of Bucknell and Holy Cross, who have won six apiece.
Colgate sophomore guard Braeden Smith earned MVP honors. Smith, the Patriot League Men’s Basketball Player of the Year, posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. He also added five assists in the title game. Sophomore guard Brady Cummins scored a career-high 19 points against the Mountain Hawks to earn All-Tournament honors. Senior forward Jeff Woodward and fifth-year forward Keegan Records joined Smith and Cummins on the squad.
Lehigh junior guard Tyler-Whitney Sidney and first-year guard Cam Gillus received All-Tournament honors for the Mountain Hawks. Bucknell sophomore center Noah Williamson also claimed a spot on the team for his performance in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.
The Raiders will learn their postseason seed and destination on Sunday, March 17, at 6 p.m. when the field of 68 is revealed during the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Selection Showon CBS.
2024 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men’s Basketball Most Valuable Player
Braeden Smith, Colgate, So., G
2024 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men’s Basketball All-Tournament Team
Braeden Smith, Colgate, So., G
Jeff Woodward, Colgate, Sr., F
Keegan Records, Colgate, 5th-year, F
Brady Cummins, Colgate, So., G
Tyler Whitney-Sidney, Lehigh, Jr., G
Cam Gillus, Lehigh, Fy., G
Noah Williamson, Bucknell, So., C
Leave a Reply