BETHLEHEM, Pa. – For the third time this season freshman Rob Keefer has been named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week, it was announced on Monday. Keefer averaged 9.0 points and 4.3 rebounds in three games for the Mountain Hawks last week, including a career-high 16 points in Lehigh’s 68-49 victory over Princeton on Sunday; the win was Lehigh’s first over the Tigers since 1930 and snapped a 23-game losing streak versus the Ivy League foe.
Keefer scored seven points on three-of-five shooting versus Penn State on December 31 and added a career-high seven rebounds. The Pennsylvania native also drilled two three-pointers as the Mountain Hawks hung tough with the Nittany Lions throughout. On January 2 Keefer netted three points and pulled down three rebounds in Lehigh’s contest at Columbia. He then followed that up with a 16-point showing, including three three-pointers, in Lehigh’s victory over Princeton. Keefer sank six-of-seven shots on the afternoon, and actually established his career-high in the first half when he scored 14 points, including a three-pointer just before halftime.
On the season, Keefer is averaging 8.3 points and 3.4 rebounds. He leads all Patriot League freshmen in scoring, field goal percentage and three-point field goals and leads all Lehigh freshmen in minutes, points and rebounds. Keefer has scored in double figures six times this season and has won more Rookie of the Week awards from the Patriot League than any other first-year player.
Keefer and the rest of the Mountain Hawks return to action on Saturday evening when they open Patriot League play against the American Eagles at Stabler Arena. Tip-off is set for just after 7:00 and tickets can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME, by logging onto Lehighsports.com or at the arena box office prior to tip-off.
