Saturday, November 28
West Lafayette, Ind.
7:00 pm
Lehigh University
at
Purdue
Photo by: Justin Casterline
Mountain Hawks wrap up road swing at Saint Francis (Pa.) Wednesday
12/1/2015 3:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Game Notes | Watch Live (Free) | Listen Live | Live Stats
Â
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Following a Thanksgiving road swing at a pair of nationally-ranked opponents, the Lehigh men's basketball will search for its first win of the season Wednesday when the Mountain Hawks travel to Saint Francis (Pa.). Opening tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Lehigh played both No. 12 Virginia and No. 15/16 Purdue tightly in long stretches, falling behind by just seven and 10 at the half, respectively. There were several bright spots, which the Mountain Hawks look to build on through the rest of the nonleague schedule and upcoming Patriot League season.
Â
Most recently, Lehigh dropped a 77-55 final at No. 15/16 Purdue Saturday. After the Boilermakers took a 7-0 lead, the Mountain Hawks responded with 12 of the next 17 points to even the score midway through the first half. The teams went back and forth through the first half, with Purdue using a late run to open a 10-point halftime advantage. Lehigh couldn't get much going in the second half as the Boilermakers remained undefeated.
Â
Lehigh held its own against a Purdue team averaging 86.0 points per game while winning by an average of 28.2 points per contest. The Mountain Hawks also held the Boilermakers to just 43.3 percent shooting after they came in shooting 50.5 percent over their first five games. The Mountain Hawks contained Purdue's leading scorer 7-foot-2 center Isaac Haas in the first half, scoring just three points in only seven minutes due to foul trouble, but he broke out for 21 in the second half to finish with 24 for the game.
Â
Junior Tim Kempton led Lehigh's offense with 17 points and nine rebounds while sophomore Kahron Ross was a spark offensively, tallying 13 points, four rebounds and four assists, including a team-high nine first-half points. The Mountain Hawks held their own on the boards, being outrebounded 50-38 for the game, but holding a 26-24 edge in the first half. Lehigh finished the game with 14 offensive rebounds to Purdue's 13. The Mountain Hawks' guards got into the act on the glass as freshman Kyle Leufroy and junior Austin Price tallied five apiece, to go with Ross' four. Price struggled offensively, but contributed four of Lehigh's seven steals as the Mountain Hawks forced 12 Purdue turnovers while turning the ball over just seven times themselves.
Â
Lehigh is hoping its tough schedule will pay dividends in the long run as the Mountain Hawks feature the fourth-ranked strength of schedule according to Ken Pomeroy following this weekend's games. Three of Lehigh's opponents are currently in the AP Top 25 - Virginia (10), Purdue (11) and Syracuse (14) - all teams the Mountain Hawks hung with in long stretches.
Â
Saint Francis (Pa.) is 2-3 on the young season, earning dominant wins over Westminster and American, beating the Eagles 68-48. The Red Flash losses have come at No. 18/19 Notre Dame (87-56), Kent State (79-60) and Maryland Eastern Shore (70-57). Greg Brown leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.3 points, but in only three games (all starts). Ben Millaud-Meunier is next at 12.6 per contest, followed by Isaiah Blackmon (11.0) and Ronnie Drinnon (9.6). Drinnon also leads the team in rebounding at 8.2 per game. Saint Francis (Pa.) looks to build off its strong 2014-15 season, which included wins over Rutgers and Duquesne.
Â
The Mountain Hawks lead the all-time series vs. Saint Francis (Pa.), 9-3. Lehigh has won nine straight, last losing on Dec. 30, 1977 by an 87-71 final. The teams have met in each of the last eight seasons as last year, Lehigh beat the Red Flash 61-59 in a thriller at Stabler Arena. In the last meeting at Saint Francis, Kempton posted his first-career double-double in a 57-50 victory.
Â
Lehigh will return home on Saturday to host Rochester College at 2 p.m. The Mountain Hawks will then have a 12-day break of games for final exams before returning to action on Thursday, Dec. 17 at Robert Morris.
Â
Like Lehigh men's basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Â
Â
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Following a Thanksgiving road swing at a pair of nationally-ranked opponents, the Lehigh men's basketball will search for its first win of the season Wednesday when the Mountain Hawks travel to Saint Francis (Pa.). Opening tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Lehigh played both No. 12 Virginia and No. 15/16 Purdue tightly in long stretches, falling behind by just seven and 10 at the half, respectively. There were several bright spots, which the Mountain Hawks look to build on through the rest of the nonleague schedule and upcoming Patriot League season.
Â
Most recently, Lehigh dropped a 77-55 final at No. 15/16 Purdue Saturday. After the Boilermakers took a 7-0 lead, the Mountain Hawks responded with 12 of the next 17 points to even the score midway through the first half. The teams went back and forth through the first half, with Purdue using a late run to open a 10-point halftime advantage. Lehigh couldn't get much going in the second half as the Boilermakers remained undefeated.
Â
Lehigh held its own against a Purdue team averaging 86.0 points per game while winning by an average of 28.2 points per contest. The Mountain Hawks also held the Boilermakers to just 43.3 percent shooting after they came in shooting 50.5 percent over their first five games. The Mountain Hawks contained Purdue's leading scorer 7-foot-2 center Isaac Haas in the first half, scoring just three points in only seven minutes due to foul trouble, but he broke out for 21 in the second half to finish with 24 for the game.
Â
Junior Tim Kempton led Lehigh's offense with 17 points and nine rebounds while sophomore Kahron Ross was a spark offensively, tallying 13 points, four rebounds and four assists, including a team-high nine first-half points. The Mountain Hawks held their own on the boards, being outrebounded 50-38 for the game, but holding a 26-24 edge in the first half. Lehigh finished the game with 14 offensive rebounds to Purdue's 13. The Mountain Hawks' guards got into the act on the glass as freshman Kyle Leufroy and junior Austin Price tallied five apiece, to go with Ross' four. Price struggled offensively, but contributed four of Lehigh's seven steals as the Mountain Hawks forced 12 Purdue turnovers while turning the ball over just seven times themselves.
Â
Lehigh is hoping its tough schedule will pay dividends in the long run as the Mountain Hawks feature the fourth-ranked strength of schedule according to Ken Pomeroy following this weekend's games. Three of Lehigh's opponents are currently in the AP Top 25 - Virginia (10), Purdue (11) and Syracuse (14) - all teams the Mountain Hawks hung with in long stretches.
Â
Saint Francis (Pa.) is 2-3 on the young season, earning dominant wins over Westminster and American, beating the Eagles 68-48. The Red Flash losses have come at No. 18/19 Notre Dame (87-56), Kent State (79-60) and Maryland Eastern Shore (70-57). Greg Brown leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.3 points, but in only three games (all starts). Ben Millaud-Meunier is next at 12.6 per contest, followed by Isaiah Blackmon (11.0) and Ronnie Drinnon (9.6). Drinnon also leads the team in rebounding at 8.2 per game. Saint Francis (Pa.) looks to build off its strong 2014-15 season, which included wins over Rutgers and Duquesne.
Â
The Mountain Hawks lead the all-time series vs. Saint Francis (Pa.), 9-3. Lehigh has won nine straight, last losing on Dec. 30, 1977 by an 87-71 final. The teams have met in each of the last eight seasons as last year, Lehigh beat the Red Flash 61-59 in a thriller at Stabler Arena. In the last meeting at Saint Francis, Kempton posted his first-career double-double in a 57-50 victory.
Â
Lehigh will return home on Saturday to host Rochester College at 2 p.m. The Mountain Hawks will then have a 12-day break of games for final exams before returning to action on Thursday, Dec. 17 at Robert Morris.
Â
Like Lehigh men's basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Â
| Date: | December 2, 2015 |
| Opponent: | Saint Francis (Pa.) Red Flash |
| Tip-off: | 7:00 PM |
| Arena/Capacity: | DeGol Arena/3,500 |
| Location: | Loretto, Pa. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 0-6, 0-0 Patriot League  |
| Saint Francis' Record: | 2-3, 0-0 NEC |
| Series: | Lehigh leads, 9-3 |
| 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: | NEC Front Row |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | Saint Francis (Pa.) Official Website |
Players Mentioned
C/F
/ 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
