Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh returns home Tuesday for final nonleague game against UMES
1/2/2012 8:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Winners of five of its last six and 11 of its last 13, the Lehigh men's basketball team looks to ride the success into the new year as the Mountain Hawks begin 2012 on Tuesday with a home matchup against University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Stabler Arena. Lehigh looks to wrap up its already record-setting nonleague slate with its 12th win of the season.
The Mountain Hawks bounced back from a slow start at Bryant by ending the first half on a 25-6 run to take a 37-19 halftime advantage. The lead swelled to 28 at one point before the Bulldogs rallied to pull within 18, but it wasn't nearly enough. Junior C.J. McCollum outscored Bryant by himself in the first half (20-18), while fittingly scoring Lehigh's final five points to up his game-high total to 34. It marked his 11th-career 30+ point game.
With his 34 points, McCollum moved from 17th to 14th in Patriot League history, now with 1,608 career points. He also moved into seventh in Lehigh history, passing Rashawne Glenn. It marked McCollum's 11th-career game with 30 or more points and third this season.
Fellow junior Gabe Knutson impressed as well, posting 18 points and 13 rebounds for his third-career double-double. The rebound total stood one shy of his career high as he helped the Mountain Hawks dominate the glass, 46-29. Sophomore Mackey McKnight dished out five assists, his fourth 5+ assist game this season and second in his last four games.
The win gave Lehigh a season sweep over the NEC as the squad defeated Fairleigh Dickinson, Quinnipiac, Saint Francis (Pa.), Wagner and Bryant. The Wagner victory looks even more impressive now as the Seahawks followed their Lehigh game with a 59-54 win at #13 Pittsburgh, then won the 45th Cable Car Classic with victories over Air Force and Santa Clara.
Coming in at 11-4, Lehigh has posted its best record through 15 games since 1924-25. A win on Tuesday would give the Mountain Hawks their best-ever record through 16 games in the program's 100+ year history. Two Mountain Hawks are looking for milestones on Tuesday as sophomore Holden Greiner is only 18 points away from 500 while McCollum is three rebounds away from 500.
The Mountain Hawks are looking for their sixth straight home victory dating back to last season. A win would give Lehigh a victory over its eighth difference conference this season. The Mountain Hawks have earned five wins over the NEC along with victories over the CAA, Big South, OVC, Atlantic 10, Middle Atlantic Conference and the MAAC. Overall, the MEAC is the 12th difference conference on Lehigh's schedule.
Maryland Eastern Shore enters with a 3-10 record, but is a perfect 2-0 against Patriot League squads so far. The wins came over American (64-62 in overtime) and Navy (59-46), both at home while the Hawks' other victory came 95-69 over Mercer. UMES has lost two in a row, to Air Force and #23 Virginia. Three players are averaging double-figure points, led by Percy Woods and Louis Bell with 10.2 apiece while Ronald Spencer is at 10.0 per game. Spencer also leads the way in rebounding (7.5), followed by Tyler Hines (6.2). The Hawks have struggled offensively, averaging only 57.9 points per game, while their rebounding margin is -3.7.
Tuesday will be the first all-time meeting between Lehigh and UMES.
Lehigh kicks off Patriot League play on Saturday when it travels to Holy Cross for a 3:30 p.m. tip against the Crusaders. Following that game, the Mountain Hawks return to Stabler Arena to host American on Wednesday (Jan. 11) at 7 p.m. 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.
Follow Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LehighMensBasketball
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Date:
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January 3, 2012
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Opponent:
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UMES Hawks
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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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11-4 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
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UMES' Record:
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3-10 overall, 0-1 MEAC
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Series:
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First Meeting
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Radio:
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Live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM with Matt Kerr and Greg Falkenbach '72. Pregame coverage gets underway at 6:30 PM.
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Television:
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None
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Internet Video:
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Lehighsports.com
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Behind Enemy Lines:
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MHT EP7 - Men's Basketball
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