Bucknell University Athletics
Friday, January 30
Vestal, N.Y.
6 p.m.
Bucknell University
5
at
2
Binghamton
Photo by: Keith Lucas
Men’s Tennis Posts Road Win at Binghamton, 5-2, in Battle of 2025 NCAA Tourney Teams
1/30/2026 9:15:00 PM | Men's Tennis
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – Brendan McDonald came up with a key service break at 5-all in the second set, and he went on to serve out the set and match to clinch Bucknell's 5-2 win over Binghamton in a battle of 2025 NCAA Tournament teams on Friday night at Lane-Stark Tennis Center. The defending Patriot League champion Bison improved to 2-1 on the season, while the reigning Northeast Conference champion Bearcats fell to 1-2, with the losses coming to PL frontrunners Bucknell and Navy.
McDonald, Amar Tahirovic, and Will Robinson were all two-time winners on Friday, as the Bison won the doubles point and then claimed each of the top four singles matches.
McDonald and Tahirovic were the first off the doubles courts with a 6-2 win over Ronin Lotlikar and Zihe Liao on Court 1. Robinson and Shiv Singh downed Andrew Fang and Ioannis Sakkas at No. 3 to clinch the point. Adam Stavrakas and Oscar Bain Moreno de Vega were serving for the match at 6-5 when the point was secured.
Bucknell won the first set in singles in five of the six matches, but the Bearcats made things interesting with strong second sets. Sakkas leveled things at 1-1 with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Singh at No. 6 singles, but Robinson's 6-4, 7-5 win over Dylan Breen at No. 4 followed by Stavrakas' 6-3, 6-4 verdict over Filipe Costa at No. 2 brought the Bison to the brink.
McDonald took the first set from Liao 6-4 on Court 3, and then at 5-5 in the second set, Liao double-faulted on break point to give McDonald the advantage. The Bison senior served it out at love to take the set 7-5 and clinch the team victory.
Lotlikar extended Tahirovic to a third set at No. 1 singles, but this week's Patriot League Player of the Week finished strong in a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 win, punctuated by a great get from well off the court on the forehand side on match point.
Binghamton's second point came from Andre Ajed, who came from a set down to defeat Bain at No. 5.
The Bison return to action on Sunday, hosting Delaware at 1 p.m. at the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport.
McDonald, Amar Tahirovic, and Will Robinson were all two-time winners on Friday, as the Bison won the doubles point and then claimed each of the top four singles matches.
McDonald and Tahirovic were the first off the doubles courts with a 6-2 win over Ronin Lotlikar and Zihe Liao on Court 1. Robinson and Shiv Singh downed Andrew Fang and Ioannis Sakkas at No. 3 to clinch the point. Adam Stavrakas and Oscar Bain Moreno de Vega were serving for the match at 6-5 when the point was secured.
Bucknell won the first set in singles in five of the six matches, but the Bearcats made things interesting with strong second sets. Sakkas leveled things at 1-1 with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Singh at No. 6 singles, but Robinson's 6-4, 7-5 win over Dylan Breen at No. 4 followed by Stavrakas' 6-3, 6-4 verdict over Filipe Costa at No. 2 brought the Bison to the brink.
McDonald took the first set from Liao 6-4 on Court 3, and then at 5-5 in the second set, Liao double-faulted on break point to give McDonald the advantage. The Bison senior served it out at love to take the set 7-5 and clinch the team victory.
Lotlikar extended Tahirovic to a third set at No. 1 singles, but this week's Patriot League Player of the Week finished strong in a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 win, punctuated by a great get from well off the court on the forehand side on match point.
Binghamton's second point came from Andre Ajed, who came from a set down to defeat Bain at No. 5.
The Bison return to action on Sunday, hosting Delaware at 1 p.m. at the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2
#1 Singles Match
123
646
Lotlikar,Ronin / 0 [BING]
462
#2 Singles Match
12
66
Costa,Filipe / 0 [BING]
34
#3 Singles Match
12
67
Liao,Harry / 0 [BING]
45
#4 Singles Match
12
67
Breen,Dylan / 0 [BING]
45
#5 Singles Match
123
621
Ajed,Andre / 0 [BING]
466
#6 Singles Match
12
42
Sakkas,Giannis / 0 [BING]
66
Order of Finish:
6,2,4,3,5,1
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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