
Mountain Hawks head to Navy for Wednesday showdown
1/21/2014 3:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh men's basketball team looks to snap a five-game losing streak when it heads to Navy on Wednesday to face the Midshipmen. Following a 2-5 November, the Mountain Hawks won five straight games in December, split the next two then have lost five straight since. Lehigh has defeated Navy seven straight times.
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After a strong start and a 14-8 lead Saturday at Holy Cross, the Mountain Hawks struggled offensively, scoring only four points over the final 12:53 of the first half and could never get it going offensively. Freshman Austin Price led the way with 13 points (11 in the first half), including 3-of-5 from three-point range. Classmate Shane Whitfield was a spark in the second half, posting nine points and four rebounds.
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Lehigh continued to struggle at Holy Cross as Saturday marked the 18th loss in its last 20 tries at the Hart Center. The Mountain Hawks held an 11-4 rebounding edge at the under-12 media timeout, helping them take the early lead. However, the Crusaders were led by four players with double-figure points. Malcolm Miller led the way with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting including a perfect 2-of-2 from three-point range.
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The Mountain Hawks' three leading scorers (senior Mackey McKnight, freshman Tim Kempton and junior Corey Schaefer) combined for just 10 points on 5-of-21 shooting. The 42 points marked Lehigh's lowest point total of the season and lowest since Feb. 2, 2008 - also at Holy Cross. The Mountain Hawks haven't eclipsed 70 points for four games (since a 79-76 loss to Army on Jan. 8).
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McKnight leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.8 points per game. Kempton is second at 12.7 while Price and Schaefer average 9.7. Kempton leads the team in rebounding (6.9) while McKnight owns a team-leading 110 assists.
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The Mountain Hawks are six games into Patriot League play with 12 league games still remaining. Despite struggling thus far, Lehigh stands in eighth place and are only two games back of fourth (and home court in the Patriot League Quarterfinals) as three teams are 3-3.
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Navy is greatly improved this season, entering Wednesday with a 7-10 record and 2-4 in Patriot League play. The Midshipmen are 6-1 at home with their lone loss coming to Army on Jan. 11. Navy defeated Bucknell last Wednesday before falling at Colgate on Saturday, 63-41. Point guard Tilman Dunbar played 10 games before getting hurt, averaging 11.9 points and 5.0 assists. Earl McLaurin has stepped in and averaged 1.6 points and 1.9 assists, playing in 16 games (seven starts). Brandon Venturini leads the team in scoring (10.6) while Worth Smith averages 9.6 points per game. Smith leads the team in rebounding with 5.1 per contest.
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Lehigh has won seven straight over Navy in the all-time series spanning the past three seasons. The Midshipmen won both meetings during Lehigh's 2009-10 Patriot League Championship campaign, but the Mountain Hawks have bounced back with a vengeance to pull within 43-24 in the all-time series. Last season, Lehigh earned a pair of dominant wins (71-49 and 72-43). The Mountain Hawks have won four straight at home and three straight on the road. The sides first met during the 1910-11 season, a 31-24 Navy victory. Lehigh's first victory was in 1925-26 by a 25-23 final. The Midshipmen won 17 of the first 19 meetings overall.
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Lehigh returns home for two straight games, hosting archrival Lafayette on Saturday at 7 p.m. before welcoming Bucknell next Wednesday (Jan. 29).
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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Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive content, team updates and more.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh men's basketball team looks to snap a five-game losing streak when it heads to Navy on Wednesday to face the Midshipmen. Following a 2-5 November, the Mountain Hawks won five straight games in December, split the next two then have lost five straight since. Lehigh has defeated Navy seven straight times.
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After a strong start and a 14-8 lead Saturday at Holy Cross, the Mountain Hawks struggled offensively, scoring only four points over the final 12:53 of the first half and could never get it going offensively. Freshman Austin Price led the way with 13 points (11 in the first half), including 3-of-5 from three-point range. Classmate Shane Whitfield was a spark in the second half, posting nine points and four rebounds.
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Lehigh continued to struggle at Holy Cross as Saturday marked the 18th loss in its last 20 tries at the Hart Center. The Mountain Hawks held an 11-4 rebounding edge at the under-12 media timeout, helping them take the early lead. However, the Crusaders were led by four players with double-figure points. Malcolm Miller led the way with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting including a perfect 2-of-2 from three-point range.
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The Mountain Hawks' three leading scorers (senior Mackey McKnight, freshman Tim Kempton and junior Corey Schaefer) combined for just 10 points on 5-of-21 shooting. The 42 points marked Lehigh's lowest point total of the season and lowest since Feb. 2, 2008 - also at Holy Cross. The Mountain Hawks haven't eclipsed 70 points for four games (since a 79-76 loss to Army on Jan. 8).
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McKnight leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.8 points per game. Kempton is second at 12.7 while Price and Schaefer average 9.7. Kempton leads the team in rebounding (6.9) while McKnight owns a team-leading 110 assists.
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The Mountain Hawks are six games into Patriot League play with 12 league games still remaining. Despite struggling thus far, Lehigh stands in eighth place and are only two games back of fourth (and home court in the Patriot League Quarterfinals) as three teams are 3-3.
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Navy is greatly improved this season, entering Wednesday with a 7-10 record and 2-4 in Patriot League play. The Midshipmen are 6-1 at home with their lone loss coming to Army on Jan. 11. Navy defeated Bucknell last Wednesday before falling at Colgate on Saturday, 63-41. Point guard Tilman Dunbar played 10 games before getting hurt, averaging 11.9 points and 5.0 assists. Earl McLaurin has stepped in and averaged 1.6 points and 1.9 assists, playing in 16 games (seven starts). Brandon Venturini leads the team in scoring (10.6) while Worth Smith averages 9.6 points per game. Smith leads the team in rebounding with 5.1 per contest.
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Lehigh has won seven straight over Navy in the all-time series spanning the past three seasons. The Midshipmen won both meetings during Lehigh's 2009-10 Patriot League Championship campaign, but the Mountain Hawks have bounced back with a vengeance to pull within 43-24 in the all-time series. Last season, Lehigh earned a pair of dominant wins (71-49 and 72-43). The Mountain Hawks have won four straight at home and three straight on the road. The sides first met during the 1910-11 season, a 31-24 Navy victory. Lehigh's first victory was in 1925-26 by a 25-23 final. The Midshipmen won 17 of the first 19 meetings overall.
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Lehigh returns home for two straight games, hosting archrival Lafayette on Saturday at 7 p.m. before welcoming Bucknell next Wednesday (Jan. 29).
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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Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive content, team updates and more.
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Date: | January 22, 2014 |
Opponent: | Navy Midshipmen |
Tip-off: | 7:00 PM |
Arena/Capacity: | Alumni Hall/5,710 |
Location: | Annapolis, Md. |
Lehigh's Record: | 8-11, 1-5 Patriot League  |
Navy's Record: | 7-10, 2-4 Patriot League |
Series: | Navy leads, 43-24 |
Radio: | Live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM and Lehighsports.com with Tom Fallon. Pregame coverage gets underway at 6:30 PM |
Television: | None |
Internet Video: | Patriot League Network |
Behind Enemy Lines: | Navy Official Website |
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