Thursday, March 6
Lewisburg, Pa.
7 p.m.
Bucknell University
18-14,13-5Patriot
76
vs
72
Loyola (PL Quarterfinals)
12-19,6-12Patriot
1
2
OT 1
F
Loyola Maryland
36
31
5
72
Bucknell
39
28
9
76
Bucknell Downs Loyola 76-72 in Patriot League Quarterfinals, Breaks NCAA Mark for OT Games
3/6/2025 9:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BUY SEMIFNAL TICKETS
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE:
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Playing in its NCAA-record ninth overtime game of the season, the top-seeded Bucknell men's basketball team won its Patriot League Tournament Quarterfinal matchup 76-72 over eighth-seeded Loyola on Wednesday night at Sojka Pavilion. The Bison will host fifth-seeded Navy on Sunday with the tip-off scheduled for 12 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. Patriot League Player of the Year Noah Williamson achieved game-highs with 21 points and 10 rebounds, his 10th double-double of the season, and clinched the game with a free throw with nine seconds remaining in OT. Fellow All-Patriot League First Team member Josh Bascoe added 20 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.
Bucknell (18-14) has now won seven straight games and 10 of its last 11, and the Bison will play in the semifinals for the 26th time in the 35-year history of the Patriot League. It was also Bucknell's 10th straight home win dating back to the start of conference play in January.
This was the second meeting in eight days between the Bison and Greyhounds, and in both contests the home team sprinted out of the gates only to see the visitors rally. Last week in Baltimore, Loyola jumped out to a 22-7 lead, but Bucknell came back to win 70-67 thanks to two big defensive stops in the final 30 seconds.
This time it was Bucknell's turn for a hot start in front of an electric crowd at Sojka Pavilion. The Bison led 11-0 after only 2:07, and they led by as many as 17 at 29-12 after Williamson's lefty finish in the lane. But suddenly Loyola got hot from downtown, hitting six 3-pointers in seven attempts as part of a 22-6 run.
Loyola took its first lead of the night on a Jordan Stiemke free throw four minutes into the second half, but then it was Bucknell's turn at the arc. Pip Ajayi and Bascoe finished layups, and then back-to-back threes by Bascoe and Brandon McCreesh capped a 10-0 run and gave the Bison a 52-44 lead.
The Greyhounds chipped away by holding the Bison without a field goal for more than five minutes, and back-to-back 3-point plays by Milos Ilic and Jacob Theodosiou gave Loyola a 61-59 lead with 5:15 to go.
Achile Spadone and Bascoe both hit go-ahead 3-pointers in the final three minutes, the latter giving Bucknell a 67-65 lead with 1:51 to go. The Bison couldn't finish a couple of chances to stretch the margin to four, and then Stiemke scored on a put-back with 40 seconds left to tie the game at 67. After an exchange of misses, Bucknell had the NCAA overtime record all to itself.
Spadone was Bucknell's catalyst in overtime. He grabbed two offensive rebounds in one possession to start the session, which led to an Edmonds layup. Braeden Speed tied the game at 70 with a 3-pointer, then Bascoe was fouled on a drive and converted both free throws. After Stiemke was off the mark on a three, Spadone scored on a drive to make it a two-possession game.
Speed's free throws made it 74-72, and after Williamson split a pair at the foul line, Loyola's Stiemke missed a heavily contested three and Williamson made the clinching free throw with nine seconds to go.
Williamson hit the 20-point mark for the 13th time this season and Bascoe for the eighth time. Edmonds finished with 12 points and Spadone had eight after playing only four minutes in the first half due to foul trouble.
Theodosiou had a terrific game for Loyola with 17 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Stiemke added 14 points, Milos Ilic had 13 with eight rebounds, and Speed scored 10 points.
Bucknell shot 47.3 percent for the game and went 8-for-20 from the 3-point arc and 16-for-23 from the foul line. The Greyhounds finished at 41.9 percent from the field after Bucknell held them to 1-for-8 in overtime. Loyola was 10-for-23 from the arc and 10-for-18 from the foul line. The Greyhounds outrebounded Bucknell 38-31 and benefited from 12 second-chance points.
Fifth-seeded Navy went on the road and defeated fourth-seeded Boston University 86-78, handing the Terriers their first home loss against a Patriot League opponent this season. All-Patriot League guard Austin Benigni scored 30 points to lead the Midshipmen. Bucknell won both regular-season meetings with Navy, 73-69 at Sojka Pavilion on Jan. 18 and 85-75 in Annapolis on Feb. 1.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE:
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Playing in its NCAA-record ninth overtime game of the season, the top-seeded Bucknell men's basketball team won its Patriot League Tournament Quarterfinal matchup 76-72 over eighth-seeded Loyola on Wednesday night at Sojka Pavilion. The Bison will host fifth-seeded Navy on Sunday with the tip-off scheduled for 12 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. Patriot League Player of the Year Noah Williamson achieved game-highs with 21 points and 10 rebounds, his 10th double-double of the season, and clinched the game with a free throw with nine seconds remaining in OT. Fellow All-Patriot League First Team member Josh Bascoe added 20 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.
Bucknell (18-14) has now won seven straight games and 10 of its last 11, and the Bison will play in the semifinals for the 26th time in the 35-year history of the Patriot League. It was also Bucknell's 10th straight home win dating back to the start of conference play in January.
This was the second meeting in eight days between the Bison and Greyhounds, and in both contests the home team sprinted out of the gates only to see the visitors rally. Last week in Baltimore, Loyola jumped out to a 22-7 lead, but Bucknell came back to win 70-67 thanks to two big defensive stops in the final 30 seconds.
This time it was Bucknell's turn for a hot start in front of an electric crowd at Sojka Pavilion. The Bison led 11-0 after only 2:07, and they led by as many as 17 at 29-12 after Williamson's lefty finish in the lane. But suddenly Loyola got hot from downtown, hitting six 3-pointers in seven attempts as part of a 22-6 run.
Loyola took its first lead of the night on a Jordan Stiemke free throw four minutes into the second half, but then it was Bucknell's turn at the arc. Pip Ajayi and Bascoe finished layups, and then back-to-back threes by Bascoe and Brandon McCreesh capped a 10-0 run and gave the Bison a 52-44 lead.
The Greyhounds chipped away by holding the Bison without a field goal for more than five minutes, and back-to-back 3-point plays by Milos Ilic and Jacob Theodosiou gave Loyola a 61-59 lead with 5:15 to go.
Achile Spadone and Bascoe both hit go-ahead 3-pointers in the final three minutes, the latter giving Bucknell a 67-65 lead with 1:51 to go. The Bison couldn't finish a couple of chances to stretch the margin to four, and then Stiemke scored on a put-back with 40 seconds left to tie the game at 67. After an exchange of misses, Bucknell had the NCAA overtime record all to itself.
Spadone was Bucknell's catalyst in overtime. He grabbed two offensive rebounds in one possession to start the session, which led to an Edmonds layup. Braeden Speed tied the game at 70 with a 3-pointer, then Bascoe was fouled on a drive and converted both free throws. After Stiemke was off the mark on a three, Spadone scored on a drive to make it a two-possession game.
Speed's free throws made it 74-72, and after Williamson split a pair at the foul line, Loyola's Stiemke missed a heavily contested three and Williamson made the clinching free throw with nine seconds to go.
Williamson hit the 20-point mark for the 13th time this season and Bascoe for the eighth time. Edmonds finished with 12 points and Spadone had eight after playing only four minutes in the first half due to foul trouble.
Theodosiou had a terrific game for Loyola with 17 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Stiemke added 14 points, Milos Ilic had 13 with eight rebounds, and Speed scored 10 points.
Bucknell shot 47.3 percent for the game and went 8-for-20 from the 3-point arc and 16-for-23 from the foul line. The Greyhounds finished at 41.9 percent from the field after Bucknell held them to 1-for-8 in overtime. Loyola was 10-for-23 from the arc and 10-for-18 from the foul line. The Greyhounds outrebounded Bucknell 38-31 and benefited from 12 second-chance points.
Fifth-seeded Navy went on the road and defeated fourth-seeded Boston University 86-78, handing the Terriers their first home loss against a Patriot League opponent this season. All-Patriot League guard Austin Benigni scored 30 points to lead the Midshipmen. Bucknell won both regular-season meetings with Navy, 73-69 at Sojka Pavilion on Jan. 18 and 85-75 in Annapolis on Feb. 1.
Team Stats
Loyola
Buck
FG%
.419
.473
3FG%
.435
.400
FT%
.556
.696
RB
38
31
TO
12
9
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballBucknell Volleyball vs. Loyola University (10/4/25)
Sunday, October 05
Richmond at Bucknell Football Game Highlights 10-4-2025
Sunday, October 05
Post Game Interview vs. Richmond
Saturday, October 04
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Vs. George Washington University (10/4/25)
Saturday, October 04