Sunday, January 14
Bethlehem, Pa.
2 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
American
Lehigh set to host American Sunday on Camper Appreciation Day
1/12/2018 4:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Game Notes | Watch Live (PLN) | Listen Live | Live Stats | Purchase Tickets
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Following a long stretch on the road, the Lehigh men's basketball will return home for just the second time in 35 days when it hosts American this Sunday at 2 p.m. The Mountain Hawks are coming off two straight road defeats at preseason No. 2 Boston University then No. 1 Bucknell, in a pair of games that saw its share of strong moments. However, Lehigh struggled to put together a full 40 minutes and came up short. Sunday's game is Camper Appreciation Day as youngsters who attended Lehigh Basketball camp over the past few years will receive FREE admission.
Lehigh allowed just 28 first-half points at Bucknell to stay within two points following 20 minutes of play. It marked the third fewest first-half points the Mountain Hawks have allowed this season (25 at Princeton and 26 at Marist). Lehigh shot just 32 percent in the first half, but it held the Bison to just 33 percent shooting. The second half began with a 10-1 Bucknell run and later included another 8-0 Bison surge, which proved too much for the Mountain Hawks to overcome. Lehigh trimmed an eventual 17-point deficit down to nine with more than three minutes remaining, but that's as close as it would come.
Sophomore Pat Andree led the offense with 14 points, including 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range. Classmate Jordan Cohen scored all 13 of his points in the second, knocking down 4-of-5 field goals and 4-of-4 free throws. Senior Kahron Ross scored 12 points while junior Kyle Leufroy filled up the stat sheet with nine points and a career-high 10 rebounds to go with five assists and three steals - both tying a season high.
Junior Caleb Sedore enjoyed his strongest-career game, grabbing four rebounds while scoring his first-career points via a post move late in the second half. He also contributed strong defense, along with Lehigh's entire front line (also Andree and freshman James Karnik). Collectively, Lehigh held Bucknell's top two scorers Zach Thomas and Nana Foulland to 25 points and 10 rebounds, 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds below their season average.
Despite being outscored 50-39 in the second half, Lehigh actually shot better from the field (52 percent, 13-of-25) and three-point range (40 percent, 4-of-10) than Bucknell in the final 20 minutes. The Bison shot 49 percent from the field (16-of-33) and 31 percent from three (4-of-13) in the second. The big story, however, was turnovers as Lehigh committed a season-high 20 compared to just 11 for Bucknell. It marked the first time since last Jan. 30 against Boston University that the Mountain Hawks turned the ball over 20 times.
The Mountain Hawks now return home for four of their next five games, beginning with American on Sunday as Lehigh will search for its sixth straight win against the Eagles. Lehigh will remain home on Wednesday to host Colgate.
American stands 4-12 on the season, coming off a 76-65 home win over Loyola on Thursday after beginning the league slate with losses at Bucknell (84-55), home vs. Colgate (72-63), at Navy (70-64) and vs. Army West Point (58-54). Leading returning scorer Sa'eed Nelson leads the Eagles and stands second in the Patriot League in scoring, averaging 18.3 points and 4.8 assists (also tied for second in the league). Larry Motuzis is averaging 15.9 points and 5.1 rebounds while Sam Iorio comes in at 12.2 and a team-leading 6.7, respectively. The win over Loyola snapped a six-game losing streak for the Eagles. Their nonleague victories came at New Hampshire (74-70), home against VMI (69-64) and vs. Howard (74-63).
Following a Patriot League Tournament loss in March, 2015, Lehigh has won five straight against American to pull within 26-24 in the all-time series. The five-game win streak is Lehigh's longest against American in program history. Last season, the Mountain Hawks defeated the Eagles 79-73 at home and 70-55 on the road. The game last February snapped a streak of three straight at Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks and Eagles have played in two of the last three Patriot League Tournaments. Lehigh defeated American in each of its three championship seasons (2004, 2010 and 2012). Lehigh and American first played in 1960-61, a 71-61 American victory. Lehigh then won the next meeting in 1964-65, 63-47.
Following Sunday's game, Lehigh remains home on Wednesday to host Colgate at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale online by clicking here.
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Following a long stretch on the road, the Lehigh men's basketball will return home for just the second time in 35 days when it hosts American this Sunday at 2 p.m. The Mountain Hawks are coming off two straight road defeats at preseason No. 2 Boston University then No. 1 Bucknell, in a pair of games that saw its share of strong moments. However, Lehigh struggled to put together a full 40 minutes and came up short. Sunday's game is Camper Appreciation Day as youngsters who attended Lehigh Basketball camp over the past few years will receive FREE admission.
Lehigh allowed just 28 first-half points at Bucknell to stay within two points following 20 minutes of play. It marked the third fewest first-half points the Mountain Hawks have allowed this season (25 at Princeton and 26 at Marist). Lehigh shot just 32 percent in the first half, but it held the Bison to just 33 percent shooting. The second half began with a 10-1 Bucknell run and later included another 8-0 Bison surge, which proved too much for the Mountain Hawks to overcome. Lehigh trimmed an eventual 17-point deficit down to nine with more than three minutes remaining, but that's as close as it would come.
Sophomore Pat Andree led the offense with 14 points, including 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range. Classmate Jordan Cohen scored all 13 of his points in the second, knocking down 4-of-5 field goals and 4-of-4 free throws. Senior Kahron Ross scored 12 points while junior Kyle Leufroy filled up the stat sheet with nine points and a career-high 10 rebounds to go with five assists and three steals - both tying a season high.
Junior Caleb Sedore enjoyed his strongest-career game, grabbing four rebounds while scoring his first-career points via a post move late in the second half. He also contributed strong defense, along with Lehigh's entire front line (also Andree and freshman James Karnik). Collectively, Lehigh held Bucknell's top two scorers Zach Thomas and Nana Foulland to 25 points and 10 rebounds, 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds below their season average.
Despite being outscored 50-39 in the second half, Lehigh actually shot better from the field (52 percent, 13-of-25) and three-point range (40 percent, 4-of-10) than Bucknell in the final 20 minutes. The Bison shot 49 percent from the field (16-of-33) and 31 percent from three (4-of-13) in the second. The big story, however, was turnovers as Lehigh committed a season-high 20 compared to just 11 for Bucknell. It marked the first time since last Jan. 30 against Boston University that the Mountain Hawks turned the ball over 20 times.
The Mountain Hawks now return home for four of their next five games, beginning with American on Sunday as Lehigh will search for its sixth straight win against the Eagles. Lehigh will remain home on Wednesday to host Colgate.
American stands 4-12 on the season, coming off a 76-65 home win over Loyola on Thursday after beginning the league slate with losses at Bucknell (84-55), home vs. Colgate (72-63), at Navy (70-64) and vs. Army West Point (58-54). Leading returning scorer Sa'eed Nelson leads the Eagles and stands second in the Patriot League in scoring, averaging 18.3 points and 4.8 assists (also tied for second in the league). Larry Motuzis is averaging 15.9 points and 5.1 rebounds while Sam Iorio comes in at 12.2 and a team-leading 6.7, respectively. The win over Loyola snapped a six-game losing streak for the Eagles. Their nonleague victories came at New Hampshire (74-70), home against VMI (69-64) and vs. Howard (74-63).
Following a Patriot League Tournament loss in March, 2015, Lehigh has won five straight against American to pull within 26-24 in the all-time series. The five-game win streak is Lehigh's longest against American in program history. Last season, the Mountain Hawks defeated the Eagles 79-73 at home and 70-55 on the road. The game last February snapped a streak of three straight at Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks and Eagles have played in two of the last three Patriot League Tournaments. Lehigh defeated American in each of its three championship seasons (2004, 2010 and 2012). Lehigh and American first played in 1960-61, a 71-61 American victory. Lehigh then won the next meeting in 1964-65, 63-47.
Following Sunday's game, Lehigh remains home on Wednesday to host Colgate at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale online by clicking here.
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Players Mentioned
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