Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks set to play at Bucknell in Patriot League Championship Game Wednesday
3/7/2017 4:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh men's basketball team will look to carry the momentum from a thrilling double overtime win at Boston University Sunday when it heads to Bucknell for the Patriot League Championship Game on Wednesday. Opening tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. The Mountain Hawks pulled out a hard-fought, 91-88 win over the Terriers to advance to their second straight title game and fourth in the last eight years.
Lehigh fans can purchase tickets for Wednesday's game at Bucknell by clicking here. Buses will also be leaving at 4:15 p.m. and fans can purchase a bus pass at the same link. Lehigh students: please use STUDENT promo code.Â
Along with CBS Sports Network, the game can be heard locally on ESPN Radio 1160/1230/1320 AM and nationally through Westwood One. For all the stations around the country airing the Westwood One broadcast, please click here.
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Molly's (4 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem, Pa.) will be the official watch party location off-campus for students while The Brick (1 W. Broad St. #100, Bethlehem, Pa.) will be the official watch party location for fans.
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Lehigh led for the majority of Sunday's game, opening an 11-point halftime advantage and as much as a 16-point second-half lead. However, Boston University stormed back, eventually tying the score in the final minute to force overtime. In the first overtime, Lehigh senior Tim Kempton evened the score with just six seconds remaining, then he blocked Boston University's ensuing chance on the other end to help force a second overtime. Kempton knocked down a corner three-pointer with 1:22 remaining in the ensuing overtime period, helping spring a 7-0 Mountain Hawks' run which led them to victory.
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Kempton was dominant, especially in the overtime periods, recording 15 points, five boards and two blocks in the 10 minutes of overtime to finish the game with 31 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high six blocks. Kempton has recorded 11 blocks over his last two games; heading into the postseason, his career high for blocks in a game was three. On Sunday, Kempton eclipsed the 2,000-point plateau, becoming just the second player in school (and Patriot League) history to eclipse 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. The other Lehigh was player was Daren Queenan while the other Patriot League player was Bucknell's Mike Muscala. Kempton has recorded a double-double in eight of his last nine games and is up to 20 this season and 53 in his career.
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Fellow senior Austin Price continued his stellar Patriot League Tournament, tallying 23 points and three steals; Price now has 50 points over the first two tournament games. Junior Brandon Alston tied a career-high with 18 points while adding five rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Kyle Leufroy had 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. He was a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line over the final 23 seconds to help Lehigh wrap up the victory.
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Lehigh's defense was a critical part of the team bouncing back from two regular season losses to Boston University and coming out victorious on the third try. The Mountain Hawks finished the game with a season-high tying 12 steals, while also setting a new season high with eight blocks. Lehigh held the Terriers to just 38.0 percent shooting after Boston University shot 45.5 percent and 46.2 percent in the first two meetings. The Mountain Hawks also limited turnovers, turning the ball over 17 times over the 50 minutes. Lehigh had a combined 37 turnovers over the first two meetings.
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Lehigh will renew its rivalry with Bucknell and meet in the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since the 2012 title game, an 82-77 Mountain Hawks' win. Lehigh and Bucknell have consistently been in contention near the top of the league. Over the last eight seasons, the Mountain Hawks have earned a Patriot League Quarterfinal home game (top four seed) seven times, advancing to the semifinals six times and championship game on four occasions, with two titles (2010 and 2012).
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Bucknell stands 25-8 on the season, finishing 15-3 in Patriot League play. The Bison have won five straight games and 13 of their last 15. Bucknell defeated Army West Point (78-62) and Navy (70-65) in the Patriot League Semifinals and Quarterfinals, respectively. Zach Thomas leads the team in scoring, coming in at 16.0 points per game while adding 6.5 rebounds per game. He's also dished 111 assists, second on the Bison. Nana Foulland comes in at 14.9 points and a team-leading 7.9 rebounds while Kimbal Mackenzie averages 11.3 points and Stephen Brown averages 10.9 and a team-leading 4.8 assists per contest. As a team, Bucknell leads the Patriot League in field goal percentage at 48.1 percent (Lehigh is right behind at 48.0). The Bison shoot 37.9 percent from three-point range, second in the league behind Lehigh.
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Lehigh is 8-4 over its last 12 games against Bucknell to pull within 101-67 in the all-time series. This year, the Mountain Hawks earned a regular season sweep, their first regular season sweep of Bucknell since 2007-08. Lehigh has defeated Bucknell 82-71 and 79-71. The Mountain Hawks have won five of their last seven meetings at Sojka Pavilion. Overall, 10 of the last 14 meetings have been decided by seven points or fewer. All four that have been greater than seven have been Lehigh victories. Bucknell is Lehigh's second-most played rival of all-time, only behind Lafayette. The last time Lehigh and Bucknell squared off in the Patriot League Tournament, the Mountain Hawks earned an 82-77 win in the 2012 championship game. A year prior, the Bison beat Lehigh in the semifinals in Sojka Pavilion.
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Like Lehigh men's basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh men's basketball team will look to carry the momentum from a thrilling double overtime win at Boston University Sunday when it heads to Bucknell for the Patriot League Championship Game on Wednesday. Opening tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. The Mountain Hawks pulled out a hard-fought, 91-88 win over the Terriers to advance to their second straight title game and fourth in the last eight years.
Lehigh fans can purchase tickets for Wednesday's game at Bucknell by clicking here. Buses will also be leaving at 4:15 p.m. and fans can purchase a bus pass at the same link. Lehigh students: please use STUDENT promo code.Â
Along with CBS Sports Network, the game can be heard locally on ESPN Radio 1160/1230/1320 AM and nationally through Westwood One. For all the stations around the country airing the Westwood One broadcast, please click here.
Â
Molly's (4 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem, Pa.) will be the official watch party location off-campus for students while The Brick (1 W. Broad St. #100, Bethlehem, Pa.) will be the official watch party location for fans.
Â
Lehigh led for the majority of Sunday's game, opening an 11-point halftime advantage and as much as a 16-point second-half lead. However, Boston University stormed back, eventually tying the score in the final minute to force overtime. In the first overtime, Lehigh senior Tim Kempton evened the score with just six seconds remaining, then he blocked Boston University's ensuing chance on the other end to help force a second overtime. Kempton knocked down a corner three-pointer with 1:22 remaining in the ensuing overtime period, helping spring a 7-0 Mountain Hawks' run which led them to victory.
Â
Kempton was dominant, especially in the overtime periods, recording 15 points, five boards and two blocks in the 10 minutes of overtime to finish the game with 31 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high six blocks. Kempton has recorded 11 blocks over his last two games; heading into the postseason, his career high for blocks in a game was three. On Sunday, Kempton eclipsed the 2,000-point plateau, becoming just the second player in school (and Patriot League) history to eclipse 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. The other Lehigh was player was Daren Queenan while the other Patriot League player was Bucknell's Mike Muscala. Kempton has recorded a double-double in eight of his last nine games and is up to 20 this season and 53 in his career.
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Fellow senior Austin Price continued his stellar Patriot League Tournament, tallying 23 points and three steals; Price now has 50 points over the first two tournament games. Junior Brandon Alston tied a career-high with 18 points while adding five rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Kyle Leufroy had 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. He was a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line over the final 23 seconds to help Lehigh wrap up the victory.
Â
Lehigh's defense was a critical part of the team bouncing back from two regular season losses to Boston University and coming out victorious on the third try. The Mountain Hawks finished the game with a season-high tying 12 steals, while also setting a new season high with eight blocks. Lehigh held the Terriers to just 38.0 percent shooting after Boston University shot 45.5 percent and 46.2 percent in the first two meetings. The Mountain Hawks also limited turnovers, turning the ball over 17 times over the 50 minutes. Lehigh had a combined 37 turnovers over the first two meetings.
Â
Lehigh will renew its rivalry with Bucknell and meet in the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since the 2012 title game, an 82-77 Mountain Hawks' win. Lehigh and Bucknell have consistently been in contention near the top of the league. Over the last eight seasons, the Mountain Hawks have earned a Patriot League Quarterfinal home game (top four seed) seven times, advancing to the semifinals six times and championship game on four occasions, with two titles (2010 and 2012).
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Bucknell stands 25-8 on the season, finishing 15-3 in Patriot League play. The Bison have won five straight games and 13 of their last 15. Bucknell defeated Army West Point (78-62) and Navy (70-65) in the Patriot League Semifinals and Quarterfinals, respectively. Zach Thomas leads the team in scoring, coming in at 16.0 points per game while adding 6.5 rebounds per game. He's also dished 111 assists, second on the Bison. Nana Foulland comes in at 14.9 points and a team-leading 7.9 rebounds while Kimbal Mackenzie averages 11.3 points and Stephen Brown averages 10.9 and a team-leading 4.8 assists per contest. As a team, Bucknell leads the Patriot League in field goal percentage at 48.1 percent (Lehigh is right behind at 48.0). The Bison shoot 37.9 percent from three-point range, second in the league behind Lehigh.
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Lehigh is 8-4 over its last 12 games against Bucknell to pull within 101-67 in the all-time series. This year, the Mountain Hawks earned a regular season sweep, their first regular season sweep of Bucknell since 2007-08. Lehigh has defeated Bucknell 82-71 and 79-71. The Mountain Hawks have won five of their last seven meetings at Sojka Pavilion. Overall, 10 of the last 14 meetings have been decided by seven points or fewer. All four that have been greater than seven have been Lehigh victories. Bucknell is Lehigh's second-most played rival of all-time, only behind Lafayette. The last time Lehigh and Bucknell squared off in the Patriot League Tournament, the Mountain Hawks earned an 82-77 win in the 2012 championship game. A year prior, the Bison beat Lehigh in the semifinals in Sojka Pavilion.
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Like Lehigh men's basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
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| Date: | March 8, 2017 |
| Opponent: | Bucknell Bison |
| Tip-off: | 7:30 PM |
| Arena/Capacity: | Sojka Pavilion/4,000 |
| Location: | Lewisburg, Pa. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 20-11, 12-6 Patriot League  |
| Bucknell's Record: | 25-8, 15-3 Patriot League |
| Series: | Bucknell leads, 101-67 |
| Radio: | ESPN Radio 1160/1230/1320 AM and Lehighsports.com with Tom Fallon. Pregame coverage gets underway at 7:00 PM. |
| Television: | CBS Sports Network |
| Internet Video: | Watch CBS Sports Network Online |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | Bucknell Official Website |
Players Mentioned
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