Lehigh returns home to host Fordham in Saturday night showdown

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Coming off a thrilling overtime triumph over defending America East Regular Season Champion Stony Brook, the Lehigh men's basketball team looks to build on its first winning streak of the season when it welcomes Fordham to Stabler Arena on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. following the women's game against Binghamton at 5 p.m.

Down by as many as 14 (59-45) with only 9:40 remaining on Wednesday, the Mountain Hawks (4-3) staged an impressive comeback, outscoring Stony Brook, 21-7, the rest of regulation to force overtime. A four-point Seawolves' possession with just over a minute remaining in overtime looked devastating to Lehigh's chances, but the Mountain Hawks bounced back with a three-pointer from senior Michael Ojo and jumper from sophomore C.J. McCollum to tie, then surpass the Seawolves for their first road win of the season.

McCollum has continued to impress after making headlines (both regionally and nationally) after an 89-point week. Despite early foul trouble, he still finished with 31 points on Wednesday behind 10-of-19 shooting and 9-of-10 from the free throw line. He also added five assists and a game-high eight rebounds. An incredible 24 points, five rebounds and five assists came in the second half and overtime. He has now scored exactly 100 points over his last three games - 42 at Kent State, 27 vs. Bryant and 31 at Stony Brook.

He also finished with eight rebounds on Wednesday, to lead the team for the third time this season. The Mountain Hawks are 3-0 in those games. He has also led the team in scoring in five of the first seven games; Lehigh is an impressive 4-1 in those contests.

Instant replay was a significant part of Wednesday game, as well. With less than 10 seconds remaining in overtime and the Mountain Hawks up by three, the Seawolves' Bryan Dougher banked in miraculous jumper, which was originally called a three-pointer. The officials immediately went to the monitors and ruled that his foot was on the line, preserving Lehigh's one-point lead with four seconds to go. There were two other reviews earlier in the second half when the officials checked whether or not two long jumpers were three-pointers.

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Senior David Safstrom enjoyed a career game for the Brown & White, which included two points and a career-high five rebounds in 18 minutes. In overtime, he broke a 3:57 scoreless drought when he snagged a big offensive rebound and converted the layup to make it 68-66 Lehigh. He also served as a key defensive presence, blocking a career-high two shots while disrupting Stony Brook drives in the lane. His five rebounds broke his previous career-high of four, also vs. Stony Brook, on Nov. 30, 2009.

Wednesday's win marked Lehigh's second over a 2010 postseason team. The Mountain Hawks defeated NCAA Tournament qualifier Cornell on Nov high five. That upped his career assist total to 201. Small's homecoming came five days after McCollum enjoyed a homecoming at Kent State. He grew up less than an hour south in Canton, Ohio and was a standout at GlenOak High School where he became the leading scorer in school history.. 22 and a Seawolves' squad who not only advanced to the NIT, but hosted Big Ten power Illinois in the first round. Lehigh also trailed at the half for the first time all season. The team's 14-point deficit midway through the second half was actually its largest since losing by a 70-56 final in the season-opener at Penn State.

Senior Prentice Small enjoyed a homecoming on Wednesday as well. A native of North Babylon, N.Y., he enjoyed a strong game with many friends and family in attendance, scoring three points while assisting on a season-

Overall, under Coach Reed, Lehigh is 38-8 when leading at the break, and just 14-29 when trailing at intermission. The Mountain Hawks did win their 14th game when trailing at the half on Wednesday, staging an impressive second-half rally to improve to 14-29 when down after 20 minutes.

Fordham and Lehigh will meet for the 19th time and first since the 1994-95 season, with the Rams holding an 11-7 advantage. The two longtime rivals first met in 1913-14, a 51-21 Lehigh victory. Lehigh went on to win five of the first six meetings, while the Rams controlled the early 1990s, which included a string of six straight victories. Fordham won the last meeting, but the Mountain Hawks were victorious in their last matchup at Stabler Arena.

The Rams, out of the resurgent Atlantic 10, have already matched their win total from last season, posting two early-season victories over Sacred Heart (69-51) and Hartford (61-57). Wednesday was actually the team's first road game of the season as it traveled to Harvard to face the Crimson. Owning a 2-4 record, Fordham is led by Chris Gaston, who was also the leading scorer last season. So far, Gaston is averaging 15.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per contest as well. Three others are also averaging double figures behind him - Brenton Butler (13.4), Alberto Estwick (12.7) and Branden Frazier (12.2). But after that, there's a big drop-off as Marvin Dominique is next, averaging 4.3 points per game.

The Mountain Hawks will be looking for their 10th straight home win on Saturday, which would pull within six of tying its longest ever such streak at Stabler Arena. They are also looking for their second straight home victory over Fordham, which would come 16 seasons apart. The last was in 1994-95, a 71-62 Lehigh triumph.

Following Saturday's game, the Mountain Hawks hit the road for two games next week, at Quinnipiac on Tuesday and at Marist on Friday before returning to Stabler Arena to host Saint Francis (Pa.) on Dec. 13 in their final game in 10 days. 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 4, 2010
Opponent:	Fordham Rams
Tip-off:	7:30 PM
Arena/Capacity:	Stabler Arena/5,600
Location:	Bethlehem, Pa.
Lehigh's Record:	4-3 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
Fordham's Record:	2-4 overall, 0-0 Atlantic 10
Series:	Fordham leads, 11-7
Radio:	Live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 and Lehighsports.com with Matt Kerr and Greg Falkenbach '72. Pregame coverage gets underway at 7:00
Internet Video:	Lehighsports.com
Behind Enemy Lines:	http://www.fordhamsports.com/

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Lehigh returns home to host Fordham in Saturday night showdown

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