Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh ballers open league play vs. American
1/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The Lehigh basketball teams start Patriot League play with a pair of tough tests as both squads take on the Eagles of American University. The men’s game will take place at Bender Arena in The men’s game is a rematch of the 2004 Patriot League Championship last March, won by Lehigh 59-57 on Jose Olivero’s off-balance jumper with 3.9 seconds remaining. Both teams lost in their last time out, as the Mountain Hawks fell to Cornell on Tuesday at Stabler Arena, while American was downed by Big-12 foe Lehigh’s Jose Olivero and American’s Andre Ingram were both named to the Patriot League All-Freshmen Team a season ago, and both have carried that solid play into this season. The Mountain Hawks have stepped it up on the defensive end over the past three games, holding their opponents to an average of 17.3 made field goals, 38 percent shooting from the field and just 57.5 points. Lehigh ranks among the Patriot League leaders in several defensive categories: Field Goal Percentage Defense: .382 - First, Three-Point Field Goal Percentage Defense: .301 - First, Scoring Defense: 59.2 – Third. Meanwhile, the Lehigh women begin their “second season” on Saturday when the Mountain Hawks welcome American to Stabler Arena to commence Patriot League play. Despite a tough two-point home loss to Marist on Wednesday, Lehigh just completed its pre-league portion of the schedule with its best record ever. The Mountain Hawks look to keep their strong play going with a showdown against the Eagles. American enters Saturday night’s contest having dropped its last five contests, including a ten-point decision to Brown on Thursday night in Lehigh and American have squared off against two common opponents this season, with similar results. Both teams defeated UNC-Asheville, and both fell to Brown. The Mountain Hawks defeated the Bulldogs in its season opener by 10 points on a neutral court, while American defeated UNCA by two points in American has dominated the all-time series between the two schools, winning 9 of the 12 previous meetings. The Eagles had won three in a row until Lehigh topped American in January of last season. That triumph marked the Mountain Hawks first-ever win at American’s Bender Arena in seven tries. Saturday’s men’s action gets underway at Lehigh Men at American Tip-off: Arena: Bender Arena (5,000) Location: Lehigh’s Record: 6-7 overall, 0-0 Patriot League American’s Record: 6-5 overall, 0-0 Ivy League Series: American leads 13-7 Radio: ESPN Radio 1230 AM and 1320 AM with Matt Kerr beginning at Internet Broadcast: www.lehighsports.com Lehigh women vs. American Time: Arena: Stabler Arena (5,600) Location: Tickets: At the Stabler Arena box office on gameday Lehigh’s Record: 8-4 overall, 0-0 Patriot League American’s Record: 5-7 overall, 0-0 Patriot League Series: American leads, 9-3 Television: Service Electric 2 Sports live with Mike Zambelli and Jim Wills Radio: WLVR-FM (91.3) beginning at Internet: lehighsports.com live with streaming provided by Yahoo! Sports
