Wednesday, January 18
Annapolis, Md.
7 PM
Lehigh University
10-8, 4-3PL
72
at
75
Navy
9-10, 4-3PL
1
2
F
Lehigh
33
39
72
Navy
33
42
75
Navy pulls out 75-72 win in game of runs
1/18/2017 10:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Lehigh men's basketball team outscored Navy 32-11 over the middle stages of the game, but the Mountain Hawks couldn't overcome long stretches of offensive struggles as they dropped a 75-72 final on Wednesday evening. Lehigh (10-8, 4-3 Patriot League) trailed by nine heading into the final minute, but cut into the deficit and had a chance to tie at the final buzzer. However, senior Austin Price's three-pointer was off the mark.
"We fell apart at our core offensively and it was very disappointing," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "We were 8-for-9 from the floor to start the second half because the ball was moving and we were finding open people, then we started over dribbling, trying to make too many plays and we suffocated ourselves. Had we stayed committed to moving the basketball as quickly and easily as we did in that stretch to begin the second half, we would have continued our run."
Senior Tim Kempton recorded his 10th double-double of the season and 43rd of his career in the loss, posting 17 points and 10 boards. In the process, Kempton moved into sixth place in school history and 10th in Patriot League history in career scoring (currently 1,776). Junior Kahron Ross also had 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-3 from three-point range. Ross dished five assists compared to zero turnovers. Price added 14 points on 3-of-5 from three-point range, along with five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Freshman Pat Andree had 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting.
Navy opened the scoring with a three-pointer in the opening minute, but Lehigh responded with a trio of threes over the game's first 2:51 Price's second trey gave the Mountain Hawks a 9-6 advantage with 17:09 remaining in the first half.
The teams traded baskets over the middle stages of the half until the Midshipmen staged a run. Junior Brandon Alston converted a layup to give Lehigh a 16-14 advantage with 11:40 on the clock, but the Mountain Hawks wouldn't score for the next 5:30. In that time, Navy went on a 9-0 run to take a 23-16 lead.
Sophomore Matt Holba ended the drought with a layup, helping spark the Mountain Hawks' strong end to the half. Trailing 32-22 following Navy's sixth made three-pointer of the half, Lehigh ended the stanza on an 11-1 run. Holba began the run with four straight free throws, then Ross and Price followed with layups. A Kempton three-pointer as the half expired evened the score at 33 following 20 minutes of play.
Kempton began the second half with a layup to extend Lehigh's run to 13-1 and give the Mountain Hawks a 35-33 lead. A Navy three-pointer gave the Mids a 38-35 lead, but Lehigh scored the next eight points, highlighted by a Ross three-pointer, to give the Mountain Hawks a 43-38 lead with 16:14 remaining.
Navy pulled within 43-41, but the Mountain Hawks responded with an 11-2 run capped off by an Andree dunk to give Lehigh a 54-43 advantage with 12:42 on the clock.
However, from there, the Mountain Hawks' offense went cold, scoring just seven points over the next 11+ minutes. Lehigh's field goal drought reached 11:47 before a Ross three-pointer pulled the Mountain Hawks within 70-64 in the final minute. Lehigh kept chipping away and had a chance for a game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds, but Price's attempt was off the mark and Navy held on, 75-72.
For the game, the Mountain Hawks shot 51 percent from the field (23-of-45), including 45 percent from three-point range (9-of-20). Navy finished at 54 percent (27-of-50) and 48 percent from long distance (11-of-23). The Midshipmen won the battle of the boards, 28-26.
"We didn't convert from the free throw line, especially during that important stretch in the second half. We went 7-of-12 and we needed those additional points to make up for our lack of made field goals.," said Reed. "We've got to be able to convert. During that long second-half drought, we had several costly turnovers as well. We also struggled to get defensive stops. We allowed points in the paint as well as dagger threes."
Lehigh now returns home on Saturday to host archrival Lafayette at 7 p.m. The game is presented by Urology Specialists of the Lehigh Valley and free foam fingers will be given away to the first 2,500 fans. In addition, several members of the 2011-12 Mountain Hawks, who beat Duke in the NCAA Tournament, will be returning for the game and will be recognized at halftime.
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Team Stats
LEHIGH
NAVY
FG%
.511
.540
3FG%
.450
.478
FT%
.654
.667
RB
26
28
TO
13
11
STL
6
3
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
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