Sunday, January 5
1:00 PM
Lehigh University
8-7, 1-1PL
66
vs
67
Boston University
9-6, 2-0PL
1
2
F
Boston University
34
33
67
Lehigh
33
33
66
Lehigh drops heartbreaker in final seconds to Boston University, 67-66
1/5/2014 4:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - For the third time in seven days, Lehigh men's basketball played a tight game that came down to the final possession, this time falling to Boston University, 67-66 on Sunday afternoon in Stabler Arena. Senior Mackey McKnight converted a three-point play to give the Mountain Hawks a lead with eight seconds remaining, but two D.J. Irving free throws with two seconds on the clock sent Boston University home winners.
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"It's unfortunate," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "When you get into league basketball, it's very competitive. There's a tremendous amount of parity in the league. Boston University is a good team. Playing them at home, there were opportunities to win this game against a good team. Ultimately, we ran out of time."
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Lehigh trailed by as many as nine in the second half and trailed by as many as eight with 2:31 remaining, but the Mountain Hawks staged a 10-1 run capped off by McKnight's three-point play. The lead was short-lived however, and the preseason Patriot League favorites walked away with the last-second victory.
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McKnight finished with 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting including 4-of-7 from three-point range. He dished five assists and added five rebounds in 38 minutes of action.
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Sophomore Jesse Chuku and junior Corey Schaefer each added 11 apiece. Four Terriers finished with double-figure points, led by 15 from Dom Morris.
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With the loss, Lehigh falls to 8-7 on the season and 1-1 in Patriot League play. Boston University improves to 9-6 and 2-0 in the league. The Terriers were picked first in the preseason coaches poll, recently defeating Maryland out of the ACC.
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Sunday's game was broadcast live nationally on CBS Sports Network.
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Morris knocked down a jumper 15 seconds into the game to open the scoring, but McKnight answered with a three. The teams went back and forth from there. Another McKnight trey helped the Mountain Hawks take an 8-7 lead with 17:09 left in the second half.
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The three ball continued to drop for Lehigh as McKnight's third trey in as many attempts made it 11-9. Then after a Justin Goldsborough jumper, a Chuku three made it 16-14 with 12:30 on the clock.
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Freshman Austin Price knocked down Lehigh's fifth three-pointer in its first seven attempts to give the Mountain Hawks a 19-14 lead with 11:13 left in the first half.
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Boston University responded with a 14-2 run to take a 28-21 lead following an Irving three-pointer with 6:09 on the clock.
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The Mountain Hawks came back with six in a row, using two Goldsborough free throws and a Chuku dunk to make it 28-25. A Miles Simelton jumper gave Lehigh a 6-0 run and pulled the Mountain Hawks within 28-27 with 3:46 remaining.
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The Terriers answered with five in a row, then jumpers from Schaefer and Simelton pulled Lehigh within one (34-33) at the half.
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Lehigh shot 46 percent in the first half (13-of-28) and 46 percent from three-point range (5-of-11). Boston University shot 48 percent (15-of-31) and 20 percent from long distance (2-of-10). The Terriers held a 17-14 edge in rebounds. McKnight finished with nine first-half points while Simelton tied a career-high with six.
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Lehigh started the second half with a thunderous alley-oop from McKnight to Chuku for an 8-0 run and 35-34 lead, but the Terriers' John Papale caught fire. He knocked down four three-pointers in the first 5:18 of the second half to give Boston University a 48-41 lead with 14:42 on the clock.
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The Terriers took a nine-point lead, but a Schaefer three off a dish from McKnight pulled Lehigh within 50-44 with 12:58 on the clock.
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A Maurice Watson Jr. layup gave Boston University an eight-point, 54-46 lead, but layups from McKnight and Schaefer pulled Lehigh within four (54-50) with 8:02 left in the second half.
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Four straight Terriers' points gave Boston University a 58-50 lead, but a Chuku jumper and McKnight layup pulled Lehigh right back within four (58-54) with 5:06 on the clock.
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Lehigh's deficit again reached eight, but a second alley-oop from McKnight to Chuku pulled Lehigh within 64-58 with 2:17 left in regulation. That sparked a 10-1 run which included a McKnight three and consecutive McKnight layups. He was fouled on the second, knocking down the free throw to make it 66-65. However, just six seconds later, Irving was fouled and hit two free throws with two seconds remaining for the 67-66 final.
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Lehigh shot 46 percent for the game (28-of-61), including 37 percent from three-point range (7-of-19). Boston University shot an identical 46 percent and 28-of-61 while knocking down 24 percent from three-point range (6-of-25). The Terriers held a 38-31 edge in rebounding.
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"Our players haven't been in these experiences," said Reed. "Mackey McKnight has been in these experiences. Corey Schaefer has defensively, but he really hasn't been in these situations before. We've got four guys around Mackey who haven't had these experiences. Teaching is very important so we can execute in these type situations. It is disheartening and it takes a bit of mental and emotional matrurity to handle disappointment and be able to bounce back."
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The Mountain Hawks remain home to host Army on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. shown locally on Service Electric 2 Sports and online through the Patriot League Network.
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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
BOSTONU
LEHIGH
FG%
.459
.459
3FG%
.240
.368
FT%
.556
.600
RB
38
31
TO
10
7
STL
2
3
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
9
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
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