Lehigh University
Colgate
McCollum scores 29, Lehigh downs Colgate
1/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Freshman C.J. McCollum continued his torrid scoring streak as he poured in 29 points on 9-of-13 shooting to help lead Lehigh to a 74-60 victory over Colgate on Wednesday evening at Stabler Arena. McCollum hit four three-pointers for the game and netted 19 second half points as he recorded his sixth game of 20 or more points this season. Three other Mountain Hawks hit for double digits, including freshman Gabe Knutson (12), senior Zahir Carrington (11) and senior Dave Buchberger (10) as Lehigh improves to 12-7 overall and 3-1 in the Patriot League. Yaw Gyawu led the Raiders with 19 points as Colgate drops to 5-13 overall and 1-3 with the setback.
McCollum spoke of his night following the game. “Everyone is playing well right now. Marquis (Hall) is finding me for some open looks, Dave (Buchberger) is hitting open shots, Zahir (Carrington) is getting inside for baskets and I think we’re playing with a lot of confidence.” He continued, “I’ve always been a scorer so I’m not surprised at how I’m playing. I’m just happy we’re winning, that’s the most important thing to me.”
Lehigh wound up shooting 47.9% for the game and sank 7-of-13 shots (53.8%) from three-point range. The Mountain Hawks pulled down 36 rebounds led by McCollum’s career-best tying seven, while Marquis Hall totaled five. Hall also handed out a game-high seven assists and Carrington blocked four shots. Lehigh did a great job at the foul line, sinking 21-of-25 attempts, good for 84.0%
Four Raiders hit for double digits, including Gyawu, Kyle Roemer (16) and Ben Jonson and Mitch Rolls with ten apiece. Gyawu and Nick Pascale pulled down six rebounds apiece and Jonson, Joe Hoban and Mitch Rolls were the leaders with four assists. The Raiders shot just 35% from the floor, including 33% from three-point range.
Lehigh opened up an 8-2 lead on the strength of back-to-back three-pointers by McCollum less than four minutes into the contest. Hall then came down with 15:28 to go and drilled another three to put the Mountain Hawks in front 11-4. Colgate scored the next five however and closed to within two at 11-9 before Knutson got inside for a basket to put Lehigh in front 13-9 at the 12:15 mark.
The teams exchanged baskets over the course of the next several minutes before Ben Jonson stepped outside and hit a shot from beyond the arc to give Colgate its first lead of the night at 20-19 with 6:19 left before halftime. Another three by Jonson, this one at the 4:47 mark, gave the Raiders a 25-21 advantage, while a Joe Hoban jumper kept Colgate’s cushion at four a minute later. Five straight points by Carrington gave the lead back to Lehigh at 28-27 with exactly two minutes to play, while Carrington’s lay-up with three ticks to go sent the Mountain Hawks into the locker room with a 30-27 lead.
McCollum led the Brown and White with ten first half points on four-of-seven shooting while Carrington added nine. McCollum was also the team leader in rebounds with five and Hall dished out three assists to lead the squad. As a team the Mountain Hawks shot 46% from the floor and 50% from three-point range and they also blocked four shots with Carrington totaling three.
Jonson scored ten first half points for the visitors and Gyawu added eight. Colgate shot just 33% from the floor but the Raiders did hit on three-of-six from downtown. Three different players pulled down three rebounds and Mitch Rolls led the charge with three helpers. Both teams committed seven turnovers in the half and there were only seven foul shots taken between the teams.
A three by Roemer right out of the gate tied the game at 30 and that led to five more points by the Raiders and a 35-30 lead with 18:34 left in the game. Buchberger got open for one of his two three-pointers and Hall sank a pair at the line and the teams were tied at 35. There were four more ties over the course of the next seven minutes before Lehigh went on a 7-0 run to open up a 58-49 lead with 5:35 to go. Two free throws by McCollum gave the Mountain Hawks a ten-point lead with 4:19 remaining, while a jumper by the smooth freshman on Lehigh’s next possession gave the Brown and White a 12-point lead. The Mountain Hawks never looked back from there to improve to 8-1 at Stabler Arena for the first time since the 2003-04 season.
Lehigh remains at home and will welcome archrival Lafayette to Stabler Arena on Saturday evening on Kids Night. The Leopards are currently 4-0 in Patriot League play and sit in sole possession of first place. “Whenever these two teams get together you can throw the records out,” Lehigh head coach Brett Reed explained. “I don’t care if Lehigh is 0-20 and Lafayette is 20-0 or vice versa; with the atmosphere and the passion in the building, that is always a high-energy contest between two teams that are both playing good basketball at this point in time. Lafayette has a very high-powered offense and is capable of putting up a lot of points, so we’ll have our work cut out for us, particularly on the defensive end.”
Tip-off is set for 7:05 and tickets may be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME, by logging onto Lehighsports.com or at the arena box office prior to tip-off. Lehigh fans are encouraged to wear brown to the game.
Lehigh - Colgate Post-Game Show
