Lafayette 65, American 63: Tournament MVP Nick Lindner scored 25 points as the host Leopards overcame the Eagles to win the Patriot League title and earn their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2000.

Seth Hinrichs added 16 points as fourth-seeded Lafayette (20-12) improved to 10-0 in Patriot League tournament games at home and makes its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance despite blowing a 13-point lead in the second half. Lindner, who was 9-for-13 from the field to help the Leopards shoot 64.9 percent, averaged 23.7 points in three tournament games as Lafayette became the lowest seed to win the tournament.

Marko Vasic contributed 15 points and nine rebounds while Pee Wee Gardner recorded 13 points and seven assists for sixth-seeded American (17-16), which swept the Leopards in the regular season and was looking for its fourth Patriot League tournament title in eight years. Charlie Jones scored 14 points, Jesse Reed added 11 and John Schoof 10 as the Eagles used only six players with reserve Jalen Rhea recording less than one minute.

American made six of its first 10 shots before going more than six minutes without scoring as Lafayette recorded 11 points during the drought to take a 23-15 lead en route to a 34-25 advantage at the break. The Leopards led 40-27 less than two minutes into the second half and by 12 with more than 12 minutes left before the Eagles unleashed a 19-5 run - capped by Vasic's three-play - to take a 55-53 lead with a little more than five minutes to play.

Hinrichs put Lafayette back in front for good with a 3-pointer less than one minute later and after Gardner's 3-pointer cut the deficit to 61-60 with just over a minute remaining, Lindner drove the lane to score while being fouled with 38.7 seconds left. Lindner, though, could not complete the three-point play - the Leopards' first miss from the free-throw line - but Schoof missed a 3-pointer and Lindner sealed the victory on a pair of free throws with 14.5 seconds to play.