Lehigh University Athletics
Men’s basketball releases 2010-11 schedule
9/16/2010 8:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Murray H. Goodman '48 Head Coach Brett Reed unveiled the 2010-11 Lehigh men's basketball schedule on Thursday which includes 29 regular season games against teams from nine different conferences. The defending Patriot League Champions will face four teams who reached the postseason last year along with opponents from the Big Ten, Pac-10 and Atlantic 10.
"Our goal was to compile a challenging and competitive schedule that will test our student-athletes during the nonconference season," said Reed. "We feel we can accomplish this and hopefully prepare ourselves for championship contention once again in the Patriot League."
The Mountain Hawks will face teams from the America East, Atlantic 10, Big Ten, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Northeast and Pac-10 to go along with their 14-game Patriot League schedule.
"One of our philosophical goals is to take our student-athletes and allow them to play in venues near their hometown," said Reed. "Games on the west coast and in the midwest plus quality opponents within our region allow us to accomplish that and provide opportunities for our players to experience playing in their home region."
Lehigh opens the season on Nov. 12 at intrastate rival Penn State. The Mountain Hawks - who last played the Nittany Lions in 2007 - look to break through against a talented Big Ten squad.
The home opener is set for three days later when the Mountain Hawks host Wagner at 7 p.m. After a trip to Monmouth, they return to Stabler Arena on Nov. 22 for a much-anticipated matchup against defending Ivy League Champion and Sweet 16 participant Cornell.
The Mountain Hawks face their second straight postseason squad on Nov. 26 when they hit the road to play defending Mid-American Conference Regular Season Champion Kent State. The Golden Flashes advanced to the second round of the NIT in 2009-10. This will also be a homecoming for sophomore CJ McCollum, who grew up within 30 minutes of Kent State's campus.
After a home game against Bryant, Lehigh heads to Stony Brook on Dec. 1 to face its second NIT participant. The Seawolves won the America East Regular Season Championship last year and hosted Illinois in the first round of the NIT.
Lehigh then returns home on Dec. 4 to host Fordham out of the Atlantic 10. The Saturday night showdown is set for 7:30 p.m. inside Stabler Arena.
Next up is Lehigh's third NIT participant, Quinnipiac, on Dec. 7 in Hamden, Conn. The Bobcats won the NEC Regular Season Title to advance to the NIT.
After games against Marist and Saint Francis, Lehigh heads to Southern California to face the Trojans on Dec. 23. The game will be extra special for four Mountain Hawks, who are from the west coast. Senior Michael Ojo and junior John Adams are from California while junior Jordan Hamilton and senior David Safstrom are both from the west coast as well.
Contests against Saint Peter's, Yale and NJIT round out the nonconference schedule before the Patriot League opener on Jan. 8 at American.
The Mountain Hawks will face each of the seven Patriot League teams twice – one on the road and one at home. Lehigh travels to Lafayette on Jan. 22 while hosting the Leopards in the final regular season home game on Feb. 19.
The other Patriot League home games include Navy (Jan. 12), Army (Jan. 15), Bucknell (Jan. 26), Holy Cross (Jan. 29), American (Feb. 5) and Colgate (Feb. 16).
"This schedule will present significant challenges, but ones in which we are eager to face as we defend our Patriot League Regular Season and Conference Tournament championships," said Reed.
For information on season tickets, call 610-7LU-GAME or visit Lehighsports.com.
