Boston: Defty, Gladden Lead Terriers From Home-Court Clincher to a Last-Second Tournament Winner

boston’s men’s basketball program was carried by Ben Defty and Chance Gladden in two tense showdowns with American University, first securing postseason home-court advantage and later delivering a last-second tournament victory that ended American’s run.

Boston’s last-second shot ends American’s run in Patriot League quarterfinals

In a narrow quarterfinal victory, the Terriers defeated American 75-73 when Chance Gladden sank the game-winning jump shot with three seconds remaining. Ben Defty led the Terriers with 20 points, adding seven rebounds and three blocks, helping Boston close out the game.

Gladden finished the game with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Donte Tisinger Jr. provided an efficient scoring lift off the bench, totaling 13 points and going 5-of-5 from the field, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.

American was paced by Madden Collins, who came off the bench to score 22 points and record two steals. Julen Iturbe added 12 points for the Eagles, while Greg Jones contributed 11 points and seven rebounds. Boston held a 40-36 lead at halftime after Defty scored 12 first-half points and added eight more in the second half.

Boston clinched postseason home-court with a 68-65 win over American

Earlier, the Terriers secured home-court advantage with a 68-65 victory over the defending Patriot League champion. That win featured a dominant early run that produced a 22-point advantage and a 15-point halftime lead, built in large part around getting sophomore forward Ben Defty touches in the paint.

Guards Michael McNair and Chance Gladden combined to score 43 points in that matchup, shooting 14-of-21 from the field and 6-of-10 from three. McNair hit four three-pointers in the first half, three coming off the dribble, while Gladden supplied key baskets throughout and a late layup with under two minutes left that gave the Terriers the lead.

Julen Iturbe led American in that meeting with 17 points, attacking from both inside and beyond the arc. The win put Boston in position to host American in a rematch in the Patriot League tournament at Case Gym on Thursday at 7 p. m.

What the two results reveal about Boston’s approach

Both contests underscore a consistent strategy: decentralize scoring when defenses collapse on Defty in the paint and trust the backcourt to convert open looks. In the home-court clincher, that approach produced early separation and left the Terriers able to withstand an American comeback. In the tournament quarterfinal, the same combination of interior presence and guard scoring delivered a last-second outcome.

Key performances and implications

• Ben Defty: led scoring in the quarterfinal with 20 points; strong two-game anchor in the paint.
• Chance Gladden: decisive late-game contributor in both matchups — a late layup in the clincher and a three-second game-winner in the quarterfinal.
• Bench impact: Donte Tisinger Jr. delivered perfect shooting in the quarterfinal appearance; Madden Collins provided major scoring for American off the bench in the tournament game.

Recent updates indicate these two wins — the regular-season victory that clinched home-court and the subsequent 75-73 quarterfinal win sealed by a last-second shot — define a stretch in which Boston leaned on interior offense and timely guard scoring. Details may evolve as postseason play continues.