Monday, January 2
Boston, Mass.
2 PM
Lehigh University
at
Boston University
Lehigh remains on the road for Monday showdown at Boston University
1/1/2017 12:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Game Notes | Watch Live (Free) | Listen Live | Live Stats
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Following a 5-1 December, the Lehigh men's basketball team looks to carry the momentum into the new year when the Mountain Hawks ring in 2017 with a matchup at Boston University on Monday. Opening tipoff is set for 2 p.m. The game will feature the top two teams selected in the preseason poll; Lehigh was predicted to win the league while the Terriers were picked second. Last season, the Mountain Hawks finished second in the league standings with Boston University not far behind in third.
Lehigh picked up a Patriot League opening win for just the third time in the last seven seasons with a hard-fought 66-59 victory at Army West Point Friday. The Mountain Hawks' offense struggled, especially down the stretch, scoring just nine points over the final 9:39. Despite the offensive struggles, the Lehigh defense bore down and didn't let the Black Knights any closer than six, and that came with just 15 seconds remaining. In the end, the Mountain Hawks wrapped up their third straight win at Army and improved to 16-11 all-time in Patriot League openers, including 3-0 in league openers at Army.
Senior Tim Kempton led the charge with 20 points and 14 rebounds, posting a double-double by halftime (11 points, 10 boards). In the process, Kempton moved into third place on the Patriot League all-time rebounds list, passing Stephen Lumpkins of American. Kempton currently owns 888 career rebounds. He also moved from 16th to 14th in league history in career points (currently 1,646). Three other Mountain Hawks recorded double-figure points: senior Austin Price (12), sophomore Kyle Leufroy (12) and junior Kahron Ross (10). All eight Mountain Hawks who saw action got on the scoreboard. Ross also dished seven assists to move within three of tying all-time great and current Lehigh assistant coach Austen Rowland for fourth place in school history for career assists. Ross currently owns 434.
Lehigh's defense was the story on Friday, holding Army to just 35.5 percent shooting from the field. It marked the second lowest shooting percentage the Mountain Hawks have allowed this season (lowest was 31.7 percent at Stony Brook. Lehigh also tallied 10 steals for the first time since the season opener at Xavier. The defense held a strong Army offense more than 19 points under its average; the Black Knights stand second in the Patriot League in scoring offense, entering Friday's game averaging 78.3 points per contest.
On Friday, Lehigh won its 10th straight Patriot League regular season game, dating back to last season. The 10 straight (regular season) league wins are a school record. Counting the postseason, Lehigh has won 12 of its last 13 against league foes. That streak came following the Mountain Hawks' heartbreaking last-second 75-73 loss at Boston University last season. Lehigh responded by closing the regular season with nine straight wins, eventually extending that streak to a school-record tying 11 following Patriot League Quarterfinal and Semifinal victories.
Boston University stands 6-7 on the season and 1-0 in Patriot League play following a 61-55 league-opening victory over Holy Cross Friday. The Terriers' best nonleague win came against Northeastern while it competed against power conference foes UConn and North Carolina State, losing by just two and four, respectively. All six of Boston University's wins are at home (compared to just one loss) while the Terriers are 0-6 on the road. 2015-16 first team All-League performer Eric Fanning leads the team in scoring (13.2 points per game) while former All-League honoree Cedric Hankerson has returned from a season-ending injury and is averaging 11.9 points per contest. Justin Alston has also returned from injury and is averaging 10.5 points and a team-leading 5.9 rebounds. Kyle Foreman leads the team with 60 assists in 12 games.
Boston University won the last meeting between the teams, using a John Papale buzzer-beating shot to take a 4-3 lead in the all-time series. The teams have split each of the last two seasons, with the home teams winning each contest. In the Terriers' first season in the Patriot League (2014-15), both road teams won. Lehigh's win at Boston University came at Agganis Arena as the program has never beaten the Terriers in Case Gymnasium. Boston University won the first-ever meeting between the two sides in 1968-69 by an 81-56 final.
Following Monday's game, the Mountain Hawks return home on Thursday, Jan. 5 to host Loyola at 7 p.m.
Like Lehigh men's basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Following a 5-1 December, the Lehigh men's basketball team looks to carry the momentum into the new year when the Mountain Hawks ring in 2017 with a matchup at Boston University on Monday. Opening tipoff is set for 2 p.m. The game will feature the top two teams selected in the preseason poll; Lehigh was predicted to win the league while the Terriers were picked second. Last season, the Mountain Hawks finished second in the league standings with Boston University not far behind in third.
Lehigh picked up a Patriot League opening win for just the third time in the last seven seasons with a hard-fought 66-59 victory at Army West Point Friday. The Mountain Hawks' offense struggled, especially down the stretch, scoring just nine points over the final 9:39. Despite the offensive struggles, the Lehigh defense bore down and didn't let the Black Knights any closer than six, and that came with just 15 seconds remaining. In the end, the Mountain Hawks wrapped up their third straight win at Army and improved to 16-11 all-time in Patriot League openers, including 3-0 in league openers at Army.
Senior Tim Kempton led the charge with 20 points and 14 rebounds, posting a double-double by halftime (11 points, 10 boards). In the process, Kempton moved into third place on the Patriot League all-time rebounds list, passing Stephen Lumpkins of American. Kempton currently owns 888 career rebounds. He also moved from 16th to 14th in league history in career points (currently 1,646). Three other Mountain Hawks recorded double-figure points: senior Austin Price (12), sophomore Kyle Leufroy (12) and junior Kahron Ross (10). All eight Mountain Hawks who saw action got on the scoreboard. Ross also dished seven assists to move within three of tying all-time great and current Lehigh assistant coach Austen Rowland for fourth place in school history for career assists. Ross currently owns 434.
Lehigh's defense was the story on Friday, holding Army to just 35.5 percent shooting from the field. It marked the second lowest shooting percentage the Mountain Hawks have allowed this season (lowest was 31.7 percent at Stony Brook. Lehigh also tallied 10 steals for the first time since the season opener at Xavier. The defense held a strong Army offense more than 19 points under its average; the Black Knights stand second in the Patriot League in scoring offense, entering Friday's game averaging 78.3 points per contest.
On Friday, Lehigh won its 10th straight Patriot League regular season game, dating back to last season. The 10 straight (regular season) league wins are a school record. Counting the postseason, Lehigh has won 12 of its last 13 against league foes. That streak came following the Mountain Hawks' heartbreaking last-second 75-73 loss at Boston University last season. Lehigh responded by closing the regular season with nine straight wins, eventually extending that streak to a school-record tying 11 following Patriot League Quarterfinal and Semifinal victories.
Boston University stands 6-7 on the season and 1-0 in Patriot League play following a 61-55 league-opening victory over Holy Cross Friday. The Terriers' best nonleague win came against Northeastern while it competed against power conference foes UConn and North Carolina State, losing by just two and four, respectively. All six of Boston University's wins are at home (compared to just one loss) while the Terriers are 0-6 on the road. 2015-16 first team All-League performer Eric Fanning leads the team in scoring (13.2 points per game) while former All-League honoree Cedric Hankerson has returned from a season-ending injury and is averaging 11.9 points per contest. Justin Alston has also returned from injury and is averaging 10.5 points and a team-leading 5.9 rebounds. Kyle Foreman leads the team with 60 assists in 12 games.
Boston University won the last meeting between the teams, using a John Papale buzzer-beating shot to take a 4-3 lead in the all-time series. The teams have split each of the last two seasons, with the home teams winning each contest. In the Terriers' first season in the Patriot League (2014-15), both road teams won. Lehigh's win at Boston University came at Agganis Arena as the program has never beaten the Terriers in Case Gymnasium. Boston University won the first-ever meeting between the two sides in 1968-69 by an 81-56 final.
Following Monday's game, the Mountain Hawks return home on Thursday, Jan. 5 to host Loyola at 7 p.m.
Like Lehigh men's basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
| Date: | January 2, 2017 |
| Opponent: | Boston University Terriers |
| Tip-off: | 2:00 PM |
| Arena/Capacity: | Case Gymnasium/1,800 |
| Location: | Boston, Mass. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 7-5, 1-0 Patriot League |
| Boston University's Record: | 6-7, 1-0 Patriot League |
| Series: | Boston University leads, 4-3 |
| Radio: | Live on ESPN Radio 1160/1230/1320 AM and Lehighsports.com with Tom Fallon. Pregame coverage gets underway at 1:30 PM ET |
| Television: | None |
| Internet Video: | Patriot League Network |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | Boston University Official Website |
Players Mentioned
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