Mountain Hawks welcome Saint Francis to Stabler on Monday
12/13/2010 2:11:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Following its second road win of the season, the Lehigh men's basketball team looks to enter a 10-day layoff on a high note as the Mountain Hawks (5-5) host Saint Francis (Pa.) on Monday evening. Lehigh used an offensive explosion for a 91-78 win at Marist on Friday, scoring 80 points over the final 30:33 on its way to a season-high 91 points. The Mountain Hawks finished the game on a 20-6 run over the final 6:34 to turn a one-point deficit into a convincing 13-point victory.
The evening was highlighted by a trio of sophomores, who combined for 69 points. C.J. McCollum led the way with 35, while Holden Greiner enjoyed a career-game with career-highs in points (19) and rebounds (11) in his first start of the season (and second of his career). Gabe Knutson added 15 for his fifth straight game with 13 or more points.
The Mountain Hawks have been on fire offensively of late, scoring 478 points over their last six games for an average of 79.7 per contest. That coincides with the emergence of freshman Mackey McKnight, who has 32 assists over that span (5.3/game) - including four games with six or more. This came after dishing only three assists per game over the first four games when the Mountain Hawks averaged 15.5 points per game less (64.2). For the season, McKnight leads the team with 44 assists while also scoring 8.2 points per game.
Two star sophomores could also each reach the 250-career rebound plateau on Monday. Knutson enters with 243 career boards, while McCollum is right behind him with 242.
Friday marked the first time all season the Mountain Hawks have won a game when they were outrebounded. They are now 1-5 in games they've been outrebounded, and a perfect 4-0 in games they hold the advantage. The 91 points were the most since also scoring 91 at Colgate on Feb. 17, 2010. The Mountain Hawks also improved to 2-1 on the season when trailing at the half; they're 3-4 when leading. McCollum already has three games of 30+ points this year, as many as he had all of last season when he was named Patriot League Player of the Year. McCollum posted a career-high six steals Friday while the team had a season-low nine turnovers.
Lehigh has put forth six different starting lineups in its first 10 games in search of a consistent lineup. With four players used consistently - McCollum, Michael Ojo, Knutson and McKnight - the Mountain Hawks are searching for someone to fill the fifth slot. On Friday, Greiner got the opportunity and would not disappoint, posting his first-career double-double. Less than five minutes into the game, he already had four points and five rebounds, on his way to 7-of-11 shooting and 2-of-3 from three-point range. The 19 points broke his previous career-high of 18 set last November against Monday's opponent, Saint Francis. He hit a big three-pointer to give Lehigh an 83-74 lead on Friday, which helped serve as a dagger.
The Mountain Hawks lead the all-time series with Saint Francis, 4-3, including four straight victories after dropping the first three contests. The Red Flash won the first game during the 1969-70 season, before winning the next two as well. Lehigh bounced back by eeking out the 1986-87 meeting (74-72). The Mountain Hawks then won three straight in each of the past three seasons, including a 76-67 road triumph last year. Lehigh won the last showdown in Stabler Arena two seasons ago, 61-56. Each of the past four meetings have been decided by single digits.
Out of the Northeast Conference, intrastate rival Saint Francis enters with a 2-6 record, 0-2 in conference play. Both wins have come against Patriot League foes - Colgate (69-66) and Bucknell (68-67). The Red Flash also faced Lafayette, narrowly dropping a 72-68 final in Easton. The squad lost its first two NEC games, by 13, then 14 points, at St. Francis (N.Y.) and Long Island. Leading the way offensively is Umar Shannon, averaging 15.3 points per game despite only one start. Mislav Juric and Will Felder are also averaging double figures, with 10.4 and 10.0 points, respectively. Felder also leads the team in rebounding with 7.4 per game while Chris Johnson is the team's top assist man with 24 helpers in eight games (three per game).
The Mountain Hawks have faced every NEC team except Long Island, posting a 21-33 combined record. Saint Francis is Lehigh's fifth NEC opponent this season as the squad has defeated Bryant and Wagner while falling to Monmouth and Quinnipiac. The Mountain Hawks own a winning record against Bryant, Monmouth and Saint Francis (Pa.) all-time.
Lehigh returns to action at Southern California on Dec. 23 before returning to Stabler Arena after the holidays for a matchup against Saint Peter's on Dec. 29. 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.
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Date:
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December 13, 2010
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Opponent:
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Saint Francis Red Flash
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Tip-off:
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7:00 PM
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Arena/Capacity:
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Stabler Arena/5,600
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Location:
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Bethlehem, Pa.
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Lehigh's Record:
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5-5 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
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Saint Francis' Record:
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2-6 overall, 0-2 NEC
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Series:
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Lehigh leads, 4-3
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Radio:
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Live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 and Lehighsports.com with Matt Kerr and Greg Falkenbach '72. Pregame coverage gets underway at 6:30
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Internet Video:
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Lehighsports.com
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Behind Enemy Lines:
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