Boston Terriers advance to Patriot League title game with dramatic buzzer-beater

Chance Gladden's last-second 3-pointer lifts Boston over Navy in conference tournament thriller

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Boston Terriers men's basketball team secured a spot in the Patriot League championship game with a thrilling 73-72 victory over the top-seeded Navy Midshipmen on Sunday. The game came down to the final seconds, with Navy taking a 72-70 lead on a late layup. But Boston's Chance Gladden hit a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Terriers the win and a chance to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

This victory keeps Boston's season alive and gives them an opportunity to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Patriot League title. For Navy, the loss likely means they will miss out on the Big Dance despite having an impressive 26-7 record during the regular season.

The details

The Terriers, seeded 4th in the conference tournament, trailed the top-seeded Midshipmen for much of the game. But Boston rallied late, tying the game at 70-70 before Navy took a late lead. With just seconds remaining, Boston got the ball back and Gladden launched a deep 3-pointer from well beyond the arc that found the bottom of the net as time expired, giving the Terriers the dramatic victory.

  • The game was tied 70-70 with about 8.4 seconds remaining.
  • Navy's Austin Benigni scored a go-ahead layup to put the Midshipmen up 72-70 with just seconds left.
  • Boston's Chance Gladden hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the Terriers a 73-72 win as time expired.

The players

Chance Gladden

A Boston Terriers player who hit the game-winning buzzer-beater 3-pointer to lift his team to victory.

Austin Benigni

A Navy Midshipmen player who scored the go-ahead layup to put Navy up 72-70 late in the game.

Michael McNair

A Boston Terriers player who scored 22 points in the win.

Aidan Kehoe

A Navy Midshipmen player who had 26 points, 12 rebounds and 5 steals in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“That was one of the most incredible finishes I've ever been a part of. I'm so proud of our guys for never giving up and finding a way to win this game.”

— Joe Jones, Boston Terriers Head Coach (Boston Globe)

“It's a tough way to end our season, but Navy had an incredible year and I'm proud of how our team competed. We'll be back stronger next season.”

— Ed DeChellis, Navy Midshipmen Head Coach (Annapolis Capital)

What’s next

Boston will play Lehigh in the Patriot League Championship game on Wednesday, March 13th, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This dramatic victory keeps Boston's season alive and gives them a chance to reach the NCAA Tournament, while Navy's impressive regular season ultimately falls short due to the heartbreaking last-second loss. The Terriers' resilience and Gladden's heroics have them one win away from punching their ticket to the Big Dance.