Lehigh University
Lafayette
Lafayette outlasts Mountain Hawks
9/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Bethlehem, PA – Lafayette hit a number of key free throws down the stretch, and rallied from a four-point halftime deficit to escape Lehigh’s Stabler Arena with a 68-63 win. The victory improves the Leopard’s record to 10-10 overall and 4-3 in the league, while the loss – Lehigh’s fifth straight – drops the Mountain Hawks to 4-16 overall, and 1-6 in Patriot League play. It was a close game throughout with no team holding more than a seven point lead. Like any classic rivalry it went right down to the wire. With one minute to go in the game neither team held the momentum but the Leopards led 64-63. With the ball and 53 seconds left, Lehigh called a timeout to plan out its strategy. Out of the break, Lehigh struggled to find a shot and eventually turned it over with four seconds left on the shot clock. A Lehigh timeout followed with 30.6 seconds left and Lafayette possession. However, the Mountain Hawks could not score and were forced to foul. Leopard free throws down the stretch sealed the win. Lehigh dominated the lane scoring 34 of its 63 points in the paint and out-rebounding the Leopards 44-27. The Mountain Hawks struggled shooting from the outside as Logie and Jensen shot a combined 6-of-20 from the floor and 2-of-12 from behind the arc. Taylor scored 11 of his 20 points in the first half to lead the Mountain Hawks. He pulled down 6 rebounds and dished out 4 assists on the night. Jensen scored 10 points, and Matt Crawford scored six points, pulled down 8 rebounds, and blocked two shots. The Leopards were paced by Brian Burke’s 17 points. He was 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Justin DeBerry scored 12 points, and Mick Kuberka added 10 in the Lafayette win. Lehigh returns to action on Saturday evening when it hosts Army at Stabler Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30.
