Sunday, December 1
2:00 PM
Lehigh University
3-5
76
vs
64
Sacred Heart
1-6
1
2
F
Sacred Heart
27
37
64
Lehigh
48
28
76
Lehigh rolls to 76-64 win over Sacred Heart
12/1/2013 4:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Led by a career-high 26 points and 15 rebounds from sophomore Jesse Chuku, the Lehigh men's basketball team opened a 27-point lead early in the second half and went on to defeat Sacred Heart 76-64 on Sunday afternoon. Senior Mackey McKnight posted his second-career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 11 assists while freshman Shane Whitfield finished with career highs in points (9) and rebounds (6).
Chuku's 26 points broke his previous career high of 18 set in the home opener against Rider.
"Jesse has been very impressive at home," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "He was sensational on the glass, he was sensational making open jump shots. He made some post moves and gave us extra possessions. He was everywhere on the floor, including challenging shots and getting deflections. He had a very impressive performance, which was nice to see because I understand his mother flew in all the way from England to come watch him. She has not had a chance to see him often, and with that type of performance, he's going to send her home happy."
The Mountain Hawks used a 20-2 run, bridging the end of the first half and beginning of the second, to firmly take control. Sacred Heart fought back late in the half, but it proved too little, too late.
"Basketball is a game of runs," said Reed. "Momentum plays a big factor in the game. I think ultimately, one thing that allowed us to be successful in the first half in particular, was our aggressiveness. Instead of being a passive defense, we were an aggressive defense. You could see that in our stance, in our communication, our help and everything that we did. Some of the turnovers we forced created transition opportunities which I think is really important."
With McKnight's 11 assists, he moved from fifth to fourth place on the Lehigh all-time list, passing former great Mike Polaha. McKnight currently owns 432 career helpers, and is only five from tying Austen Rowland who had 437 in his career.
Chuku finished 11-of-16 from the field while grabbing 15 rebounds, the most by any Lehigh player since C.J. McCollum had 15 on Feb. 16, 2011 against Colgate. Junior Corey Schaefer scored 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting and 4-of-6 from three-point range, marking the second time in three games with double-figure points. Freshman Tim Kempton scored 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting while adding four rebounds as well.
Lehigh's 168 points over its first two home games are its most since scoring 184 over its first two games of 1994-95.
Tied at two, Lehigh used a 9-0 run featuring seven straight points from Chuku, to take an 11-2 lead with 16:38 left in the first half. A fastbreak layup from Schaefer forced Sacred Heart to call timeout.
Schaefer added a three to make it 14-2, but the Pioneers used a 12-3 run to pull within 17-14. A Steve Glowiak layup made it 17-14 with 9:51 left in the first half.
On the ensuing possession, Chuku grabbed an offensive rebound and converted the layup to end Sacred Heart's momentum, making it 19-14. That started a 9-0 run for Lehigh as a McKnight jumper, Schaefer three-pointer and Chuku layup made it 26-14 with 7:40 on the clock.
Sacred Heart responded by scoring 11 of the next 15 points as a Cole Walton layup made it 30-25 with 4:59 remaining.
From there, the Mountain Hawks staged an impressive 15-0 run, which began with two McKnight free throws. It continued with a Whitfield steal and three-point play, McKnight steal and ensuing layup, Chuku dunk and back-to-back three-pointers from freshman Austin Price and Schaefer.
Tevin Falzon ended the run, and a 4:24 Sacred Heart scoreless drought, but McKnight hit a three-pointer as the first half expired to make it 48-27 after 20 minutes of play. Lehigh's 48 points tied a season high for points in a half (second half vs. Rider).
Chuku had a monster first half with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Schaefer added 11 while McKnight had nine points, seven assists and three steals. The Mountain Hawks shot 56 percent (18-of-32) in the first and 50 percent from three-point range (7-of-14) while Sacred Heart shot 40 percent (10-of-25) and 38 percent (3-of-8), respectively.
Lehigh continued the momentum in the second half, scoring 12 of the first 18 points to take a 60-33 lead following a Whitfield layup with 15:40 on the clock.
Two straight Pioneers threes pulled them within 60-39, forcing Lehigh to call timeout with just over 14 minutes remaining.
Chuku followed by grabbing an offensive rebound and finishing a layup, reaching a career high in points (20) and rebounds (13) on the same play.
Sacred Heart wouldn't go away, pulling within 18 after a Phil Gaetano three made it 62-44 with 12:19 on the clock. A Chuku jumper made it 70-46 with 9:32 remaining, but the Pioneers scored 15 of the next 19 points to pull within 76-61 with 1:54 remaining. Sacred Heart scored the final three points, but it wasn't nearly enough.
Lehigh shot 55 percent from the field (28-of-51) and 38 percent from three-point range (8-of-21). Sacred Heart came in at 42 percent (22-of-53) and 45 percent from long distance (9-of-20). Lehigh held a 33-29 rebounding advantage.
Lehigh will hit the road to face its second straight NEC foe Saint Francis (Pa.) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Mountain Hawks then return home to host UMBC next Saturday (Dec. 7) and LIU Brooklyn (Dec. 9) before a 12-day break for final exams. Tickets are available online, including a print-at-home option, or by calling the ticket office at 610-7LU-GAME (610-758-4263). Individual game tickets are only five dollars (in advance) and season tickets are also available.
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Team Stats
SHU
LEHIGH
FG%
.415
.549
3FG%
.450
.381
FT%
.688
.571
RB
29
33
TO
15
14
STL
5
7
Game Leaders
Pts
26
FGM
11
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
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