Boston University stuns Navy with buzzer-beater to reach Patriot League final

Terriers advance to championship game after dramatic last-second shot

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Boston University pulled out a last-second thriller to advance to the Patriot League championship game with a 73-72 victory Sunday over top-seeded Navy in Annapolis. Freshman guard Chance Gladden's 40-foot jumper from just over mid-court with under a second remaining lifted the Terriers to the title game against Lehigh for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

This win marks a major upset for the Terriers, who were the underdogs against the top-seeded Navy squad. Boston University has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2011, so this victory represents a significant opportunity for the program to return to the Big Dance.

The details

Gladden's game-winning shot came after Navy had grabbed a two-point lead with just 3.6 seconds left in the game. The Terriers were led in scoring by Gladden with 26 points and junior guard Michael McNair with 22 points. Navy was paced by senior center Aidan Kehoe, who recorded a double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
  • Gladden's game-winning shot came with under a second remaining in the game.

The players

Chance Gladden

A freshman guard for Boston University who hit the game-winning 40-foot buzzer-beater to lift the Terriers to victory.

Michael McNair

A junior guard for Boston University who scored 22 points in the win.

Aidan Kehoe

A senior center for Navy who recorded a double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds in the losing effort.

Joe Jones

The longtime head coach of the Boston University men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“I saw three seconds to go, I was just sprinting up the court, and when I let it go, it felt so good. I knew it was in.”

— Chance Gladden, Freshman guard, Boston University (CBS Sports Network)

What’s next

Boston University will face Lehigh in the Patriot League championship game on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, with a bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.

The takeaway

This dramatic victory for the Boston University Terriers showcases the unpredictability and excitement of college basketball's postseason tournaments, where underdogs can pull off stunning upsets and punch their ticket to the Big Dance.