Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh heads to American Thursday for CBS Sports Network tilt
2/7/2012 9:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Following five straight games in the Lehigh Valley, the Lehigh men's basketball team heads to our nation's capital on Thursday to face American in a big Patriot League showdown. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and will air live nation-wide on CBS Sports Network with Jason Knapp and Vince Curran on the call. Thursday's game could prove crucial in the battle for a top-two seed in the league standings and a guaranteed home game for a potential Patriot League Semifinal.
The last time the Mountain Hawks left the Lehigh Valley was on Jan. 14 at Colgate. Since, the squad has enjoyed four home games and a battle at archrival Lafayette. From this point forward, Lehigh hits the road for four of its last six to close out the regular season, beginning with Thursday and also including games at Bucknell, Army and Navy.
Lehigh and American enter Thursday tied in the Patriot League standings with identical 6-2 league marks. The Mountain Hawks hold the head-to-head edge, though, with their 71-60 win over the Eagles on Jan. 11. A Lehigh win would give them the tiebreaker, effectively giving the Mountain Hawks a two-game edge for a top-two seed with five games remaining.
The Mountain Hawks opened the second round of league play Saturday with an impressive 75-51 win over Holy Cross. Lehigh used a late first-half surge, which included five points in the final 16 seconds, to take a 40-25 lead after 20 minutes. Junior C.J. McCollum was again the story, scoring 20 points while adding seven rebounds, five assists and five steals. Junior Holden Greiner added 15 via 4-of-5 shooting and 2-of-3 from three-point range while junior Gabe Knutson finished with 12 to pull within 23 of 1,000 career points. He also enters Thursday only three rebounds away from 500 in his career. Lehigh's 24-point win marked the squad's seventh 20-point victory of the season. An incredible 16-of-18 wins thus far have come by double figures.
Lehigh outrebounded Holy Cross, 37-32 and has outrebounded its opponent in eight of its last 10 and 11 of its last 15 games. The 51 points allowed were just one from tying a season-best for fewest points allowed. The Mountain Hawks only had nine turnovers, its seventh game this season with single-digit turnovers.
Lehigh is looking to defeat American for the fifth time in the last seven meetings. Should they win, the Mountain Hawks would improve to 13 games over .500 for the first time in school history. The squad was last 12 games over .500 following its Patriot League Championship win over Lafayette in 2010 to improve to 22-10. Lehigh has won two straight road wins, having won four of its last five away from home.
The Eagles have impressed most of the season, especially at home where they're a perfect 9-0. American enters Thursday tied for second with the Mountain Hawks via a 6-2 league mark. The Eagles' only losses have come at Lehigh and Bucknell. The squad has won seven of its last nine overall after a four-game losing streak which spanned much of December. Two SEC transfers are leading the way for American, led by Vanderbilt transfer Charles Hinkle, who is second in the Patriot League with 19.7 points per game. Georgia transfer Troy Brewer, who was out the first time these teams met, also averages double figures (12.2). Blake Jolivette is next up with 8.2 points per game while Daniel Munoz averages 7.7. Hinkle and center Tony Wroblicky are tied for the team lead in rebounding (5.5) while Munoz owns a team and Patriot League leading 96 assists.
American leads the all-time series, 21-15, but Lehigh has won four of the last six matchups. The Mountain Hawks snapped a two-game losing streak with a 71-60 home win on Jan. 11. Lehigh had previously won all three meetings during the 2009-10 Patriot League Championship campaign before the Eagles responded with a sweep one season ago. The sides first met in 1960-61, a 71-61 American victory before Lehigh got into the win column with a 63-47 victory in 1964-65.
Lehigh returns home on Saturday (Feb. 11) for a 7 p.m. tip against Stabler Arena. Admission is FREE for all as part of Fan Appreciation Night. Radio Disney (AM 640) will be on hand with music, games and prizes which should be a fun night for all. Fans can claim their tickets on Lehighsports.com by clicking here. Tickets for all home games 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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February 9, 2012
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Opponent:
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American Eagles
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Tip-off:
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7:00 PM
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Arena/Capacity:
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Bender Arena/4,500
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Location:
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Washington, D.C.
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Lehigh's Record:
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18-6 overall, 6-2 Patriot League
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American's Record:
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15-8 overall, 6-2 Patriot League
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Series:
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American leads, 21-15
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Radio:
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Live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM and Lehighsports.com with Matt Kerr. Pregame coverage gets underway at 6:30 PM.
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Television:
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CBS Sports Network
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Internet Video:
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None
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Behind Enemy Lines:
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