Lehigh heads to Liberty for three games this weekend

11/16/2011 10:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Coming off its first win of the season, Lehigh travels to Liberty this weekend to play three games in three days as part of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. The Mountain Hawks will face William & Mary Friday (4:30 p.m.), host Liberty Saturday (7:00) and Eastern Kentucky Sunday (2:30). It marks the first time Lehigh plays on three straight days since the beginning of the 2006-07 season in a tournament at Oregon.
 
The Oregon trip was the second straight year Lehigh played a three game in three day tournament after facing Northwestern, Coppin State and Butler in the BCA Invitational a year prior. Following this weekend, the Mountain Hawks enjoy eight days in between games leading into their home opener on Monday, Nov. 28 against Quinnipiac.
 
Lehigh picked up its first win of the season on Tuesday, defeating Fairleigh Dickinson by 11, led by a season-high 23 points from junior C.J. McCollum. Junior Gabe Knutson and sophomore Mackey McKnight also enjoyed strong games with 16 and 12, respectively.
 
The win came over a vastly different Fairleigh Dickinson squad that features numerous transfers from strong schools like Louisville, Duquesne, Hofstra and more. Ironically, the 72-61 final marked the exact same final as the Knights' season opener when they hung tough against Big East squad Providence.
 
McCollum posted five steals (one shy of a career-high) to help lead a strong defense which posted 11 steals and caused 22 turnovers. Junior Holden Greiner continued his strong start to the season, leading the team in rebounds for a second straight game (8). McKnight's 12 points came on 3-of-6 shooting and 6-of-6 from the free throw line; he also dished a team-high three assists.
The Mountain Hawks are looking to put together a win streak for the first time since last Feb. 9 and 12 when they defeated Navy and Army on the road. The last time Lehigh won three straight games was last Dec. 29 through Jan. 4 (Saint Peter's, Yale and NJIT). The squad's last four-game winning streak came during the end of its 2009-10 Patriot League Championship season; the Mountain Hawks won five in a row bridging the end of the regular season through the Patriot League Tournament.
 
Out of the CAA, William & Mary enters the weekend with an 0-3 record, coming off a slim 75-72 loss to Liberty on Monday. The Tribe have also lost to St. John's (74-59) and Hampton (73-58). Quinn McDowell leads the way in scoring (16.0) and rebounding (6.7). Marcus Thornton has also averaged double figures with 12.3 per game while Julian Boatner has averaged 8.7 and Matt Rum 7.7.
 
Friday will mark the fifth-ever game against William & Mary with the Tribe holding a 3-1 advantage. Lehigh has never faced Liberty or Eastern Kentucky. The Tribe defeated Lehigh in their last meeting (82-65) on Jan. 4, 1992.
 
Coming off a 19-win season and a second-place Big South finish, Liberty has continued its success so far this year. The Flames enter the weekend with a 2-1 record, defeating Randolph Macon and William & Mary while falling at Texas A&M. Liberty features a strong offense, which averages 71.7 points per game behind four double-digit scorers. John Caleb Sanders leads the way with a 15.7 scoring average, followed by David Minaya (12.7), Antwan Burrus (11.3) and Jesse Sanders (10.0). Sanders also leads the team in rebounding with 6.7 per game.
 
Coming off a solid sixth-place finish in the OVC, Eastern Kentucky features a fairly new team in 2011-12. After losing three players who averaged double-digit points a year ago, the Colonels are led by Northern Illinois transfer Mike DiNunno (13.7 points per game) while Joshua Jones is averaging 10.3 after posting 11.7 points per game a year ago. D'Mitri Riggs is the team's top player off the bench, with 9.0 points per game. Eric Stutz leads the team in rebounding (6.7) to go with his 8.7 scoring average.
 
Following this weekend, Lehigh will have eight days in between games leading into its home opener on Nov. 28 against Quinnipiac. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Stabler Arena. 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:
November 18, 2011
Opponent:
William & Mary Tribe
Tip-off:
4:30 PM
Arena/Capacity:
Vines Center/8,085
Location:
Lynchburg, Va.
Lehigh's Record:
1-2 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
William & Mary's Record:
0-3 overall, 0-0 CAA
Series:
William & Mary leads, 3-1
Radio:
Live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM with Tom Fallon. Pregame coverage gets underway at 3:30.
Television:
None
Internet Video:
None
Behind Enemy Lines:
 
Date:
November 19, 2011
Opponent:
Liberty Flames
Tip-off:
7:00 PM
Arena/Capacity:
Vines Center/8,085
Location:
Lynchburg, Va.
Lehigh's Record:
1-2 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
Liberty's Record:
2-1 overall, 0-0 Big South
Series:
First Meeting
Radio:
Live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM with Tom Fallon. Pregame coverage gets underway at 6:30.
Television:
None
Internet Video:
Behind Enemy Lines:
 
Date:
November 20, 2011
Opponent:
Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Tip-off:
2:30 PM
Arena/Capacity:
Vines Center/8,085
Location:
Lynchburg, Va.
Lehigh's Record:
1-2 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
Eastern Kentucky's Record:
1-2 overall, 0-0 OVC
Series:
First Meeting
Radio:
Live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM with Tom Fallon. Pregame coverage gets underway at 2:00.
Television:
None
Internet Video:
None
Behind Enemy Lines:
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Thursday, October 31
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Basketball
Wednesday, October 30
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Basketball
Wednesday, February 07
Men's Basketball vs SUNY Oneonta
Thursday, November 16