Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh to face marquee programs as part of Legends Classic
7/24/2013 12:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Tickets
Complete Legends Classic Release
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh men's basketball team will face the University of Houston and Pittsburgh as part of the 2013 Legends Classic, as announced by The Gazelle Group on Wednesday. The Mountain Hawks will also travel to South Dakota State where it will play Texas Southern then either Howard or the host Jackrabbits. This marks the third straight season that Lehigh will compete in a prestigious early-season tournament, following the 2K Sports Classic and the NIT Season Tip-Off the last two seasons, respectively.
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"Our program has taken a stance over the last few years to enhance our schedule through participation in multi-team tournaments," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "It's allowed us to have some tremendous experiences against strong competition. The additional byproduct I have witnessed in past years is the formulation of our team, the connectedness of our team and ultimately the growth and chemistry from our experiences in tournaments such as this."
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The Mountain Hawks will head to Houston to kick off the Regional Round of the tournament, facing the Cougars on Nov. 17. It will mark a homecoming for senior Mackey McKnight, who starred at Langham Creek as his high school's all-time leading scorer and a Houston Chronicle First Team All-Greater Houston honoree. Lehigh and Houston have played once in their history, a 96-74 Cougars victory on Dec. 4, 1993.
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Lehigh will then travel to Pittsburgh for a second straight year, facing the Panthers just three days later on the 20th. Like last season's meeting, this year's contest will air on ESPNU as one of only two non-championship round games televised by the ESPN Family of Networks.
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"Lehigh basketball has had a tremendous amount of visibility over recent years, due to success of our program and a national interest in our product," said Reed. "The opportunity to play on an ESPN network allows our fans in multiple parts of the country to be able to experience our season more closely. That, combined with the (Patriot League's) comprehensive package through CBS Sports Network and other outlets, continues to provide our general public opportunities to engage with our team across a national basis."
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Last season, the Mountain Hawks trailed Pitt by just five at the half before the Panthers proved too much in the second. Lehigh still leads the all-time series, 5-4.
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The Mountain Hawks wrap up the Legends Classic on Nov. 25-26 at the Brookings Subregional Round, facing Texas Southern on the 25th then either Howard or host South Dakota State a day later. Lehigh has never faced Texas Southern or South Dakota State while playing Howard only once, a 73-67 victory on Jan. 5, 1979.
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Lehigh wrapped up last season with a 21-10 record while advancing to the College Basketball Invitational, the third time in the last four years the Mountain Hawks have eclipsed 20 wins and made a national postseason tournament. Lehigh loses a trio of1,000 point scorers, but return rising senior and All-Patriot League selection Mackey McKnight along with starter Anthony D'Orazio in the backcourt to lead a young and talented squad.
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