Mountain Hawks head to Stony Brook on Wednesday night
11/30/2010 11:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - After alternating wins and losses, the Lehigh men's basketball looks to begin its first winning streak of the season when it travels to Stony Brook on Wednesday to face the defending America East Regular Season Champions. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. The Mountain Hawks are also looking for their first road win of the season after two straight down-to-the-wire finishes away from home.Sophomore C.J. McCollum has been the story of late, not only on the team, but also regionally and nationally. He finished with 89 total points over three games last week, including a career-high 42-point effort at Kent State, to lead the Mountain Hawks to two wins. He was recognized with his first-career Patriot League Player of the Week honor after winning rookie of the week nine times last season. McCollum was also included on ESPN.com's Weekly Watch among "More Players Who Wowed Us," while garnering the season's first ECAC Player of the Week as well.
Stony Brook marks Lehigh's second of three games against defending regular season conference champions within a two-week span. The Mountain Hawks fell to defending MAC Champion Kent State on Friday, while they will also face defending NEC Champion Quinnipiac next Tuesday (Dec. 7). All three were upset in their conference tournaments last season, but each earned automatic berths into the NIT.
The Seawolves are already Lehigh's fourth opponent (in its first seven games) to have taken part in ESPN's College Basketball Tip-Off Marathon on Nov. 16. Stony Brook played at Monmouth at 6 a.m., Kent State hosted Robert Morris at 10 a.m. and Penn State welcomed Saint Joseph's at 7 p.m. (on ESPN3.com). Overall, Lehigh faces five teams who took part in the marathon. The Mountain Hawks play at Marist, next Friday evening; the Red Foxes played No. 7 Villanova that afternoon.
Senior Michael Ojoenjoyed a stellar game against Bryant on Sunday, setting a new career-high with five steals, including a real momentum changer right before the half. Down by five, the Bulldogs were holding for the final shot of the first half. Ojo instead made the clean steal and went all the way for the easy dunk for a seven-point advantage. He became the first Mountain Hawks' player since Marquis Hall on Dec. 20, 2009 to record five or more steals in a game. Ojo and freshman Mackey McKnight also tied career-highs with six assists apiece.
Wednesday marks the seventh all-time meeting between the two schools with Lehigh holding a 4-2 advantage. Stony Brook did win last season's matchup, 71-52, to hand the Mountain Hawks one of only 10 regular season defeats. All six meetings have come over the past eight years, with four at home and three on the road. Each of the past three games have come in Stabler Arena. Lehigh will visit Stony Brook for the first time since Dec. 4, 2004, a 56-49 Seawolves' victory. Lehigh is 3-1 at home and 1-1 on the road in the all-time series.
Stony Brook comes in with a 3-2 record, looking to build off a strong 2009-10 campaign which included an America East Regular Season championship and NIT appearance. The squad did lose an honorable mention All-America guard in Muhammad El-Amin, but do return three starters who look to build on the success. Bryan Dougher leads the way early in 2010-11 with 16.2 points per game. Chris Martin has posted nine points and 6.8 rebounds, while freshman Dave Coley has impressed early in his college career, averaging 7.2 points per contest. Dallis Joyner leads the Seawolves in rebounding with 8.6. Lehigh and Stony Brook already have two common opponents - Wagner and Monmouth. Both teams are 1-1 in those games, but ironically have had opposite results. Lehigh defeated Wagner and fell to Monmouth while Stony Brook topped Monmouth, but lost to Wagner.
The Mountain Hawks return home on Saturday to host Atlantic 10 foe Fordham in a Saturday evening showdown at Stabler. They then hit the road for two games next week, at Quinnipiac on Tuesday and at Marist on Friday. Tickets for all home games are now on sale and may be purchased on Lehighsports.com or by calling the ticket office at (610) 7LU-GAME.
|
Date:
|
December 1, 2010
|
|
Opponent:
|
Stony Brook Seawolves
|
|
Tip-off:
|
7:00 PM
|
|
Arena/Capacity:
|
Pritchard Gymnasium/2,000
|
|
Location:
|
Stony Brook, N.Y.
|
|
Lehigh's Record:
|
3-3 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
|
|
Stony Brook's Record:
|
3-2 overall, 0-0 America East
|
|
Series:
|
Lehigh leads, 4-2
|
|
Radio:
|
Live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 and Lehighsports.com with Matt Kerr and Steve Lomangino. Pregame coverage gets underway at 6:30
|
|
Internet Video:
|
goseawolves.org
|
|
Behind Enemy Lines:
|
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Basketball
Wednesday, November 12
2025-20226 Lehigh Men's Basketball Season Preview
Thursday, October 30
Season Preview: Men's Basketball
Thursday, October 31
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Basketball
Wednesday, October 30
