Tuesday, November 12
7:00 PM
Lehigh University
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Lehigh earns dominant 92-78 home opening win over Rider
11/12/2013 10:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh men's basketball team scored its most points in a home opener since 1994 in an impressive 92-78 win over Rider on Tuesday evening. Four players scored in double figures, led by 21 points from freshman Austin Price and the first-career double-double from senior Mackey McKnight who had 14 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
"I thought our first 20 minutes of basketball was excellent," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "We had unselfish offensive play, the ball was moving around, people were getting open shots, we were valuing the basketball, not turning it over, were taking things that were given to us and were capitalizing. I thought our defensive energy was terrific, I thought we made a commitment to defend effectively, help each other out and contain the ball."
Sophomore Jesse Chuku scored 18 points, including a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range. He added eight rebounds while freshman Tim Kempton had 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
The Mountain Hawks opened the game with an 18-2 lead and wouldn't look back.
"With our inexperience and our overall youth, there is going to be some highs and lows," said Reed. "One thing that I hope comes to the forefront is that we have players who have individual talent. The individual talent will continue to grow, we will get better with our systems and understanding of things, especially if we have the unselfish mentality of continuing to share the ball."
The offensive outburst marked Lehigh's most points in a home opener since downing Cornell Nov. 26, 1994 by a 105-89 final. The 92 points were the most since Lehigh had 102 last December against Fairleigh Dickinson.
The Mountain Hawks shot the lights out from three-point range, finishing 14-of-23 (61 percent). Along with Chuku's 4-of-4, McKnight was 3-of-4 and Price 5-of-10.
Kempton got the scoring started with a pair of free throws on the game's first possession. Price hit the first of his three first-half threes to make it 5-0 with 19:07 on the clock.
After Rider's first points of the game, the Mountain Hawks went on a 13-0 run over the next 2:26. The run began with a Chuku three from the top of the key and ended with a McKnight trey which made it 18-2 with 15:49 left in the first half.
The Broncs responded with an 8-0 run behind a three, three-point play and jumper to make it 18-10 with 13:59 on the clock
A Stefan Cvrkalj three gave Lehigh a 24-10 lead with 11:35 to go. The teams went back and forth until the Mountain Hawks extended their lead to 19 for the first time (37-18) following a Chuku three with 6:15 remaining.
Rider immediately scored the next five points to pull within 14, but Lehigh's lead reached 19 once again after a Kempton three-point play made it 42-23 with 2:24 on the clock. That 19-point difference proved to be the halftime margin as Lehigh took a 44-25 lead into the locker room.
Price led the way with 12 first-half points while Kempton had nine and Chuku eight. The Mountain Hawks hit 56 percent from the field (15-of-27) including 57 percent from three-point range (8-of-14).
Rider came out of the locker room with a vengeance as a Shawn Valentine three pulled the Broncs within 48-37 with 16:08 remaining.
However, junior Corey Schaefer found classmate Conroy Baltimore for a layup to make it 50-37. A Chuku three helped Lehigh regain a 55-39 lead with 14:42 on the clock. The Broncs pulled within 12 just over two minutes later, but three consecutive McKnight threes gave Lehigh its first 20-point lead (67-47) with 10:09 on the clock.
The lead swelled to 73-51 after a Price trey with 8:41 remaining. Rider used a mini 6-0 run to pull to within 83-72 with two minutes on the clock. The Broncs attempted to pressure, but the Mountain Hawks hit their free throws down the stretch to seal the impressive victory.
Lehigh finished at 59 percent from the field (30-of-51) and 61 percent from three-point range (14-of-23) while the Broncs shot 40 percent (21-of-53) and 39 percent from long distance (7-of-18). Lehigh won the battle of the boards, 30-29.
Lehigh will now hit the road for five straight away from home, beginning with a trip to Fordham on Friday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on SNY. The Mountain Hawks then head to Houston on Sunday for a 2 p.m. ET game against the Cougars.
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Team Stats
RID
LEHIGH
FG%
.396
.588
3FG%
.389
.609
FT%
.829
.750
RB
29
30
TO
8
10
STL
4
2
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
4
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
3
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