Thursday, January 2
Hamilton, N.Y.
7:00 PM
Lehigh University
8-6 (1-0)
88
at
81
Colgate
6-6 (0-1)
1
2
OT 1
OT 2
F
LEHIGH
29
33
10
16
88
COLGATEM
28
34
10
9
81
Mountain Hawks top Colgate 88-81 in double overtime classic
1/2/2014 10:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HAMILTON, N.Y. - In a back and forth game that saw neither team lead by more than eight points, the Lehigh men's basketball team made enough plays in the end as the Mountain Hawks opened Patriot League play with a thrilling 88-81 double overtime win at Colgate on Thursday evening. Senior Mackey McKnight hit a three-pointer with 27 seconds left in the regulation to force overtime, then after a nip and tuck first overtime, Lehigh pulled away late in the second overtime period. Freshman Tim Kempton enjoyed yet another monster game with a career-high 25 points and 13 rebounds for his fourth double-double in his last six games.
"This was a game of physical exertion, exhaustion and a high degree of mental toughness," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "For our players to be able to come up here and absorb not only the physical toll of an extra 10 minutes of basketball, but also the pressure that's involved in every single possession, it was really something to be proud of.
"It certainly was a game of attrition," he continued. "Fortunately, we were able to prevail against a very good Colgate team that gave us a great shot tonight."
It marked Lehigh's first double overtime game since Feb. 14, 2009 at Army when the game went into three overtimes.
Sophomore Jesse Chuku was strong once again with 18 points and 4-of-9 from three-point range, including several clutch threes in crunch time. Junior Corey Schaefer added 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting. All 18 of McKnight's points came after halftime; he added seven assists, five rebounds and a career-high tying five steals.
Kempton made a number of key plays down the stretch. He now has 42 points and 26 rebounds over his last two games.
"Tim is establishing himself by far as the best freshman in the Patriot League," said Reed. "From what I've seen thus far, I don't think it's even in question. He's doing an excellent job. He's finishing possessions with rebounds and has been an ultra-efficient player on the interior. He even made some face-up jump shots. His game is pretty complete. He's grown a lot since he's been here, and we're going to keep trying to put him in a position where he can grow through the course of his career."
Murphy Burnatowski led Colgate with 26 points as the five Raiders starters scored 76 of their 81 points.
Colgate jumped out to an early lead, using an Austin Tillotson three-pointer to open the scoring before a Burnatowski trey made it 8-2 with 16:48 on the clock.
Another Burnatowski three made it 11-4, but Chuku responded with a three, then freshman Shane Whitfield converted a drive to the basket, to quickly make it 11-9 with 14:14 remaining.
The teams traded baskets as a second Chuku three pulled Lehigh within 15-14 with 10:25 left in the first half.
The Mountain Hawks continued to chip away as an Austin Price trey gave Lehigh its first lead (21-20) with 7:29 on the clock. Neither team scored for the next 2:31 until a Schaefer jumper made it 23-20.
Colgate answered with five straight points, behind a Tillotson layup and Damon Sherman-Newsome three, but Kempton answered on the other end with an impressive finish in the post to even the score at 25 with 3:41 remaining.
Lehigh used a Kempton layup and two Chuku free throws to take a 29-25 lead, but an Ethan Jacobs three with four seconds on the clock pulled Colgate within one at the half.
The Mountain Hawks shot 41 percent from the field (12-of-29) and 33 percent from three-point range (3-of-9) while Colgate shot 42 percent (11-of-26) and 43 percent from long distance (6-of-14). Lehigh held a 16-15 edge in rebounds. Kempton and Chuku each had eight points and four rebounds in the first half.
A Burnatowski jumper less than a minute into the second half helped Colgate regain a 30-29 lead. The teams traded baskets in the ensuing minutes as Schaefer got hot with a three and long two-pointer in less than a minute.
The Raiders opened a 40-37 lead following a pair of Burnatowski free throws with 16:36 remaining.
Down 43-40, Kempton finished a three-point play off a nifty pass from junior Conroy Baltimore to even the score with 14:20 on the clock.
The teams continued to trade points from there, standing tied at 45, 47 and 49 and 51.
Lehigh scored four straight points, using a Kempton layup off a feed from Chuku, followed by a McKnight jumper to take a 55-51 lead with 5:56 left in the second half.
Colgate pulled within two but a pair of Price free throws gave the Mountain Hawks a 57-53 lead with just over four minutes remaining.
The Raiders responded with four straight points as a Tillotson layup evened the score at 57 with 1:59 on the clock. McKnight came up with a big steal and fastbreak layup to make it 59-57, but a Sherman-Newsome three-point play gave Colgate the lead back with 59 seconds left in regulation.
Tillotson came up with a big steal and layup, but missed the "and-one" free throw to give Lehigh a chance. McKnight capitalized, knocking down a three with just 27 seconds on the clock, to even the score at 62. McKnight came up with a steal on the ensuing possession to force overtime.
After a Colgate three to begin overtime, two Schaefer free throws pulled Lehigh within 65-64. Chuku later hit a big three from the corner to tie the score at 67. Burnatowski answered just nine seconds later, but Kempton responded with a three-point play on the ensuing possession. A Kempton layup made it 72-70 with 38 seconds to go, but the Raiders answered 11 seconds later.
Schaefer got off a shot at the end of the first overtime, but it was no good.
Down two early in the second overtime, Chuku knocked down a corner three to give Lehigh a lead. The Mountain Hawks got a stop then Kempton grabbed an offensive layup and converted to make it 77-74. Leading by one, the Mountain Hawks began to pull out, using a Kempton layup and Schaefer layup following McKnight's fifth steal of the evening, to make it 81-76 with 57 seconds on the clock.
The lead swelled to eight (the largest for either side) following two McKnight free throws with 28 seconds remaining. The Mountain Hawks continued to convert from the charity strip, coming away with the huge 88-81 victory.
Lehigh shot 44 percent from the field (30-of-68) and 32 percent from long range (7-of-22). Colgate shot 45 percent (30-of-67) and 35 percent from long distance (10-of-29). The Mountain Hawks won the battle of the boards, 40-38.
Lehigh returns home to host league newcomer Boston University on Sunday at 1 p.m. live on CBS Sports Network.
"Every league game is important," said Reed. "All the teams in the league have the same ambition, to go to the NCAA Tournament. Tonight's game builds a lot of things. It's great to get a road league in league play. It's also very important that our players continue to have success in pressure situations. Fortunately, we were able to do that tonight. Hopefully, through these experiences will continue to pay dividends moving forward."
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
LEHIGH
COLGATEM
FG%
.441
.448
3FG%
.318
.345
FT%
.808
.647
RB
40
38
TO
11
17
STL
11
6
Game Leaders
Pts
25
FGM
11
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
18
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
11
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
3
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