Friday, November 14
Allentown, Pa. (PPL Center)
8:00 pm
Lehigh University
vs
Villanova
Mountain Hawks open season vs. #12 Villanova Friday night
11/13/2014 10:01:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game Notes | Listen Live | Live Stats
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh men's basketball team opens the 2014-15 season in the Lehigh Valley as the Mountain Hawks face the #12 Villanova Wildcats at the new PPL Center in Allentown. The game will tip at 8 p.m. and will air live nation-wide on Fox Sports 2. Lehigh is searching for its first season-opening win since 2008-09, which began with a 79-72 victory over Saint Peter's. The Mountain Hawks return a talented core of players, led by sophomores Tim Kempton and Austin Price who both earned a spot on the Patriot League All-Rookie Team last season; Kempton was named Rookie of the Year.
Tickets for Friday's game are sold out through both Lehigh and the PPL Center. Fans can watch the game live on Fox Sports 2 and listen live in the Lehigh Valley on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM and online through espnlv.com.
Â
Two other starters also return in senior Corey Schaefer and junior Jesse Chuku. In total, 75 percent of the team's scoring returns, led by Kempton who posted 13.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in a strong freshman campaign. Chuku was next with 8.7 points and 5.9 boards per contest while Price averaged 8.4 points and knocked down a team-high 52 three-pointers. The team's biggest hole is at point guard as the program's all-time assists leader Mackey McKnight graduated after averaging 13.5 points and 6.0 assists in 2013-14. Highly-touted freshman Kahron Ross is projected to start at point guard and looks to become the third straight Mountain Hawk point guard to serve as a four-year starter, following McKnight and Marquis Hall.
Â
Lehigh finished last season 14-18 and in sixth place in the Patriot League standings. The Mountain Hawks fought hard until the very end, losing a 54-48 final at Holy Cross in the league quarterfinals. Lehigh enjoyed several highlight moments, which included an overtime win at eventual Patriot League regular season champion Boston University, a victory over eventual NCAA Tournament squad Texas Southern and a convincing victory over 20-win Quinnipiac.
Â
The Mountain Hawks will have their work cut out for them against a Villanova squad that finished last season 29-5, advancing to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. Bethlehem native Darrun Hilliard is the team's leading returning scorer after averaging 14.3 points as a junior. Saturday marks the first-ever college basketball game in the home of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League. Penn State and Drexel will also play at the PPL Center in December.
Â
Lehigh is eying its first win over a Big East foe since Nov. 26, 2008 when the Mountain Hawks defeated Rutgers, 76-71. Lehigh's last win over a BCS conference opponent came in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, a 75-70 victory over Duke. The Mountain Hawks have dropped five straight season openers, all on the road: at Richmond (2009), Penn State (2010), St. John's (2011), Baylor (2012) and Minnesota (2013). This Friday marks Lehigh's latest season opener since that 2008 victory at Saint Peter's. Every game since has been November 13 or earlier, including last season's Nov. 8 opener which marked the earliest game in school history.
Â
Villanova holds a 9-4 lead in the all-time series which includes winning four straight and nine of the last 10. The last meeting came during the 2005-06 season, an 84-47 Villanova victory when the Wildcats were ranked #4 in the nation. Lehigh's last win came during the 1941-42 season. The first meeting between the sides came in 1907-08, a Lehigh win.
Â
After a tough 13-19 record in 2011-12, the Wildcats have quickly gotten back to becoming a perennial national power, which they're accustomed to being. Villanova went 20-14 in 2012-13 then 29-5 last season. The team's leading scorer James Bell graduated, but Villanova returns seven of its top eight scorers, led by Hillard who posted 14.3 points and 3.6 rebounds last season. He was followed close behind by JayVaughn Pinkston with 14.1 points and 6.1 rebounds. Bell, Pinkston and Daniel Ochefu all led the Wildcats in rebounding, averaging 6.1 boards apiece while Ryan Arcidiacono led the way with 3.5 assists per game. Villanova finished 16-2 in the Big East last season and 15-1 at home under Jay Wright, who enters his 14th season as Wildcats head coach.
Â
After Friday's season opener, the Mountain Hawks head home to Stabler Arena to host Canisius in their home opener on Tuesday. Opening tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
Â
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Â
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh men's basketball team opens the 2014-15 season in the Lehigh Valley as the Mountain Hawks face the #12 Villanova Wildcats at the new PPL Center in Allentown. The game will tip at 8 p.m. and will air live nation-wide on Fox Sports 2. Lehigh is searching for its first season-opening win since 2008-09, which began with a 79-72 victory over Saint Peter's. The Mountain Hawks return a talented core of players, led by sophomores Tim Kempton and Austin Price who both earned a spot on the Patriot League All-Rookie Team last season; Kempton was named Rookie of the Year.
Tickets for Friday's game are sold out through both Lehigh and the PPL Center. Fans can watch the game live on Fox Sports 2 and listen live in the Lehigh Valley on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM and online through espnlv.com.
Â
Two other starters also return in senior Corey Schaefer and junior Jesse Chuku. In total, 75 percent of the team's scoring returns, led by Kempton who posted 13.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in a strong freshman campaign. Chuku was next with 8.7 points and 5.9 boards per contest while Price averaged 8.4 points and knocked down a team-high 52 three-pointers. The team's biggest hole is at point guard as the program's all-time assists leader Mackey McKnight graduated after averaging 13.5 points and 6.0 assists in 2013-14. Highly-touted freshman Kahron Ross is projected to start at point guard and looks to become the third straight Mountain Hawk point guard to serve as a four-year starter, following McKnight and Marquis Hall.
Â
Lehigh finished last season 14-18 and in sixth place in the Patriot League standings. The Mountain Hawks fought hard until the very end, losing a 54-48 final at Holy Cross in the league quarterfinals. Lehigh enjoyed several highlight moments, which included an overtime win at eventual Patriot League regular season champion Boston University, a victory over eventual NCAA Tournament squad Texas Southern and a convincing victory over 20-win Quinnipiac.
Â
The Mountain Hawks will have their work cut out for them against a Villanova squad that finished last season 29-5, advancing to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. Bethlehem native Darrun Hilliard is the team's leading returning scorer after averaging 14.3 points as a junior. Saturday marks the first-ever college basketball game in the home of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League. Penn State and Drexel will also play at the PPL Center in December.
Â
Lehigh is eying its first win over a Big East foe since Nov. 26, 2008 when the Mountain Hawks defeated Rutgers, 76-71. Lehigh's last win over a BCS conference opponent came in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, a 75-70 victory over Duke. The Mountain Hawks have dropped five straight season openers, all on the road: at Richmond (2009), Penn State (2010), St. John's (2011), Baylor (2012) and Minnesota (2013). This Friday marks Lehigh's latest season opener since that 2008 victory at Saint Peter's. Every game since has been November 13 or earlier, including last season's Nov. 8 opener which marked the earliest game in school history.
Â
Villanova holds a 9-4 lead in the all-time series which includes winning four straight and nine of the last 10. The last meeting came during the 2005-06 season, an 84-47 Villanova victory when the Wildcats were ranked #4 in the nation. Lehigh's last win came during the 1941-42 season. The first meeting between the sides came in 1907-08, a Lehigh win.
Â
After a tough 13-19 record in 2011-12, the Wildcats have quickly gotten back to becoming a perennial national power, which they're accustomed to being. Villanova went 20-14 in 2012-13 then 29-5 last season. The team's leading scorer James Bell graduated, but Villanova returns seven of its top eight scorers, led by Hillard who posted 14.3 points and 3.6 rebounds last season. He was followed close behind by JayVaughn Pinkston with 14.1 points and 6.1 rebounds. Bell, Pinkston and Daniel Ochefu all led the Wildcats in rebounding, averaging 6.1 boards apiece while Ryan Arcidiacono led the way with 3.5 assists per game. Villanova finished 16-2 in the Big East last season and 15-1 at home under Jay Wright, who enters his 14th season as Wildcats head coach.
Â
After Friday's season opener, the Mountain Hawks head home to Stabler Arena to host Canisius in their home opener on Tuesday. Opening tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
Â
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Â
| Date: | November 14, 2014 |
| Opponent: | Villanova Wildcats |
| Tip-off: | 8:00 PM |
| Arena/Capacity: | PPL Center/8,578 |
| Location: | Allentown, Pa. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 0-0, 0-0 Patriot League  |
| Villanova's Record: | 0-0, 0-0 Patriot League |
| Series: | Villanova leads, 9-4 |
| Radio: | Live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM and Lehighsports.com with Tom Fallon and Greg Falkenbach '72. Pregame coverage gets underway at 7:30 PM |
| Television: | Fox Sports 2 |
| Internet Video: | None |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | Villanova Official Website |
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
C/F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballSeason 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
