Mountain Hawks host Army Saturday in nationally televised showdown
3/1/2013 3:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Following a dominant 29-point win on Wednesday night, the Lehigh men's basketball team wraps up the regular season when it hosts Army in a key Patriot League Tilt Saturday. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. With a win, Lehigh would clinch no worse than the #3 seed in the upcoming Patriot League Tournament, but could move up to #2 or as low as 4 with a loss. It's also Senior Day as the class of Holden Greiner, Gabe Knutson, C.J. McCollum and Cory Goodman will be honored prior to the game.
Saturday's game is the first of a doubleheader on the Goodman Campus as #16/17 Lehigh men's lacrosse hosts VMI right after at 2:30 p.m. at the Ulrich Sports Complex.
Lehigh snapped a three-game losing streak in a big way Wednesday, beating Navy 72-43 for its largest margin of victory over a Patriot League foe since Jan. 21, 1995, an 86-51 win over Lafayette. Junior B.J. Bailey came within one of tying a career high in points, scoring 17 on 5-of-7 from three-point range. Sophomore Stefan Cvrkalj posted his first double-figure scoring game since the first meeting with Navy, finishing with 11 points including three treys. Greiner and Knutson added 11 and 10, respectively on a combined 9-of-10 from the field.
The Mountain Hawks' defense impressed, allowing a season-low 43 points while posting 12 steals, their most since having a season-high 13 in the Patriot League opener against Holy Cross. Four different Mountain Hawks posted multiple steals. Lehigh is 6-0 when allowing fewer than 50 points on the season. The Mountain Hawks shot 54 percent from the field, eclipsing 50 percent for a second straight game and ninth time this season; they're 8-1 in those nine games.
The win gave Lehigh head coach Brett Reed his second significant milestone of the season as he became the school's all-time leader in career wins (after becoming the fastest coach in Patriot League history to 100 victories earlier this season). He broke a tie with Tony Packer for the school record, reaching 113 victories in just 184 games (61.4 win percentage).
Army comes in red hot, winners of five straight and seven of their last nine. Its only two losses in that span have come to Lehigh and Bucknell. Like Lehigh, the Black Knights have clinched a home game in the Patriot League Quarterfinals, but could finish anywhere between the #2 and 4 seeds in the upcoming tournament. Army is 8-4 at home this season, but just 6-8 on the road. Saturday marks Lehigh's sixth CBS Sports Network game of the season and eighth game in front of a nationally-televised audience.
Army has come on down the stretch, winning five straight following two consecutive home losses to Lehigh and Bucknell. Since, the Black Knights have beaten Lafayette, Navy, Colgate, American and Holy Cross. Army has won four straight on the road after starting 2-8 away from home. Preseason All-Patriot League honoree Ella Ellis leads the team with 17.5 points per game. Kyle Wilson comes in at 12.9 while Josh Herbeck (who's missed some time due to injury) averages 8.9, Kyle Toth 8.6 and Dylan Cox 6.2. A very young squad, Army started three freshmen and two seniors. Cox leads the team in rebounding (5.2) while Jordan Springer comes in at 4.1 boards per game. The Black Knights are second in the Patriot League in scoring (only behind Lehigh), averaging 72.7 points per game.
Lehigh has won four straight and seven-of-eight against Army to pull within 60-36 in the all-time series. Earlier this season, the Mountain Hawks opened a 22-point first-half lead before holding off a valiant Army comeback attempt to win by nine. Lehigh has won three of its last four at home, including an 83-64 victory last season. Lehigh won the first-ever meeting between the two sides back in 1906-07 (a 26-24 final).
The Mountain Hawks will host a Patriot League Quarterfinal game next Wednesday (Mar. 6) at 7 p.m. in Stabler Arena. Check back to Lehighsports.com for more information leading into the Patriot League Tournament.
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive content, team updates and more. Click here to vote C.J. McCollum for the Senior CLASS Award.
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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March 2, 2013
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Opponent:
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Army Black Knights
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Tip-off:
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12:00 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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19-8 overall, 9-4 Patriot League
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Army's Record:
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15-13 overall, 8-5 Patriot League
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Series:
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Army leads, 60-36
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Radio:
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Live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM and Lehighsports.com with Matt Kerr and Greg Falkenbach '72. 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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Season Preview: Men's Basketball
Thursday, October 31
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Basketball
Wednesday, October 30
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Basketball
Wednesday, February 07
Men's Basketball vs SUNY Oneonta
Thursday, November 16
