Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks look to bounce back at Navy Wednesday
1/29/2013 8:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh men's basketball team looks to bounce back from a tough loss to Lafayette Sunday when it travels to Navy Wednesday to face the Midshipmen. Opening tipoff is set for 7 p.m. The Mountain Hawks are coming off a roller-coaster week, winning at Bucknell Wednesday before falling to Lafayette Sunday, both televised nationally on CBS Sports Network. Junior B.J. Bailey led the offense with 30 points last week, including a career-high 18 at Bucknell.
Bailey earned a spot on the Patriot League's weekly honor roll, garnering honorable mention recognition. He tied for the team lead in scoring vs. Lafayette (12 points) along with senior Gabe Knutson and junior Mackey McKnight. The story in the first half was Lehigh's shooting as the Mountain Hawks shot just 25 percent (8-of-32) over the first 20 minutes. The Mountain Hawks rebounded to 43 percent shooting in the second (13-of-30), but Lafayette caught fire in knocking down 70 percent (21-of-30). The loss snapped a five-game winning streak against Lafayette, also snapping Lehigh's 12-game winning streak against Patriot League foes (dating back to last season).
Knutson's 12 points moved him from 13th to 12th on the Lehigh career points list (1,353 points), passing Joe Knight (1,350). The Mountain Hawks allowed more than 62 points for the first time since Dec. 29 against Bryant, but have still allowed 62 or fewer in six of their last seven games (after doing so only once in the first 12 contests). Lehigh and Lafayette combined for only 15 turnovers (six for Lafayette, nine for Lehigh); this came one game after Lehigh and Bucknell combined for just 12.
Interest in the Lehigh program continues to grow as the Mountain Hawks drew a season-high 3,279 fans to Sunday's game against Lafayette, most since the 2010 Patriot League Championship Game (also vs. Lafayette). Lehigh has surpassed 2,000 fans for each of its three home league games (2,720 average).
The Mountain Hawks hit the road where they've impressed this season. After falling to 0-2 away from home (with losses at Baylor and Pittsburgh), Lehigh has won six of its last seven with its only defeat coming by a slim four-point margin at VCU. With a win on Wednesday, the Mountain Hawks would be 5-1 after six Patriot League games for the first time since the 2005-06 season.
Navy is much improved this season, entering with a 7-14 record and 1-4 in Patriot League play. Led by former Penn State head coach Ed DeChellis, the Midshipmen won their first league game under DeChellis in a big way, winning at Army 59-50. The squad also owns a big victory over Bryant (now 13-6 on the season). This comes after a 2011-12 season which saw Navy finish 3-26. This year, the Midshipmen average point differential is -1.9 (58.1 points for, 60.0 points against).
Dating back to last season, Lehigh is 23-6 over its last 29 games. The Mountain Hawks are eying their sixth straight win over Navy and third straight at Navy's Alumni Hall.
Navy features a deep and balanced offense. Freshman Tilman Dunbar leads the team in both points (10.2) and assists (5.2) while Worth Smith and Brandon Venturini average 9.9 and 9.2 points, respectively. Kendall Knorr comes in at 6.5 points and 2.6 boards while eight other players average 2.4 or more points. Smith also leads the team in rebounding (5.9). The Midshipmen won two of their first three games and six of their first 13, but are just 1-8 over their last nine. The one win was a big one as they traveled to Army and beat the Black Knights, 59-50. Since, the squad lost at American (72-49) and vs. Colgate (70-56). An extremely young squad, Navy is projected to start three sophomores and two freshmen on Wednesday night.
Lehigh has won five straight to cut Navy's all-time lead to 43-23. The Midshipmen won both games during the Mountain Hawks' 2010 Patriot League Championship campaign, but Lehigh has rebounded with five in a row over the past two seasons. Most recently, the Mountain Hawks won down at Navy, 58-41. The first-ever meeting came during the 1910-11 season, a 31-24 Navy victory. Lehigh's first win came in 1925-26 by a 25-23 final. Navy won 17 of the first 19 meetings overall.
The Mountain Hawks close out the first round of Patriot League play on Sunday (Feb. 3) at Army.
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Individual and season tickets are on sale and may be purchased on Lehighsports.com, over the phone (610-758-4263) or in-person at Stabler Arena, Monday-through-Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
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Date:
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January 30, 2013
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Opponent:
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Navy Midshipmen
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Tip-off:
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7:00 PM
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Arena/Capacity:
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Alumni Hall/5,710
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Location:
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Annapolis, Md.
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Lehigh's Record:
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14-5 overall, 4-1 Patriot League
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Navy's Record:
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7-14, 1-4 Patriot League
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Series:
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Navy, 43-23
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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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None
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Internet Video:
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Behind Enemy Lines:
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