
Lehigh set to square off with Bucknell Saturday afternoon in battle for first
1/18/2019 11:41:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh men's basketball team will look to continue its home success when it hosts Bucknell on Saturday in a battle for first place. Opening tipoff is set for 12 p.m., followed by the Lehigh women hosting American at 2:30 (The games were originally scheduled for 4:30 and 7 p.m., but were moved due to impending winter weather.) The Mountain Hawks are coming off an 83-76 win over American on Wednesday to improve to 11-5 on the season, 4-1 in league play and 7-0 at home. Bucknell also enters 4-1 in the Patriot League, with Saturday's winner gaining sole possession of first place a third of the way into the league slate.
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On Saturday, the Mountain Hawks will recognize their 2004 Patriot League Championship Team on the 15-year anniversary of the title. Lehigh finished the year 20-11, 10-4 in league play, defeating American 59-57 in the title game.
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Most recently, the Mountain Hawks used a dominant first half to beat American, 83-76. Lehigh turned an early four-point, 19-15 lead with 11 minutes on the clock, into a 47-31 halftime advantage. Freshman Jeameril Wilson helped lead the first-half charge, scoring all of his career-high 11 points in the first stanza, while junior Pat Andree had nine of his 14 in the first 20 minutes. Andree, senior Lance Tejada and sophomore James Karnik led the way with 14 points apiece. Karnik added 11 rebounds for his sixth-career double-double and second in as many home games (also vs. Loyola on Jan. 6). Junior Jordan Cohen had 12 points and seven assists, including a big shot with just over a minute remaining to put Lehigh up by six. The possession prior, Tejada knocked down a big jumper to put Lehigh up by four.
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Lehigh continues to show impressive balance, with five Mountain Hawks in double figures (all scoring between 11 and 14 points) for the first time since Nov. 16 vs. Princeton. Beyond Lehigh's double-figure scorers, senior Kyle Leufroy had eight points, four rebounds and three assists while junior Ed Porter scored six points in just four minutes, seeing his first action in over a year.
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The Mountain Hawks didn't need their nation's-leading three-point shooting on Wednesday as their 35.6 percentage from distance (5-of-14) - still very solid - was their lowest percentage since shooting 28.6 percent at Kansas State (10 games ago). Wednesday's percentage was Lehigh's third lowest percentage from behind the arc all season. Lehigh is shooting 46.0 percent on the year, which still leads the nation.
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Lehigh drove to the basket, and converted on short jumpers and free throws Wednesday, shooting 57.4 percent from the field (31-of-54), including 65.0 percent from inside the arc (26-of-40). Wednesday marked the seventh time this season the Mountain Hawks have eclipsed 50 percent shooting (all coming in the last 12 games). Lehigh is up to 32nd nationally in field goal percentage (48.4).
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Lehigh and Bucknell has developed into a strong rivalry, with one of the two teams winning six of the last nine Patriot League Championships. Last season, the teams split with each winning on their home court. In the most recent meeting, the Mountain Hawks picked up a thrilling 92-89 win over the Bison in overtime.
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After Saturday, the Mountain Hawks hit the road on Wednesday to face Navy. Opening tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
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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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On Saturday, the Mountain Hawks will recognize their 2004 Patriot League Championship Team on the 15-year anniversary of the title. Lehigh finished the year 20-11, 10-4 in league play, defeating American 59-57 in the title game.
Â
Most recently, the Mountain Hawks used a dominant first half to beat American, 83-76. Lehigh turned an early four-point, 19-15 lead with 11 minutes on the clock, into a 47-31 halftime advantage. Freshman Jeameril Wilson helped lead the first-half charge, scoring all of his career-high 11 points in the first stanza, while junior Pat Andree had nine of his 14 in the first 20 minutes. Andree, senior Lance Tejada and sophomore James Karnik led the way with 14 points apiece. Karnik added 11 rebounds for his sixth-career double-double and second in as many home games (also vs. Loyola on Jan. 6). Junior Jordan Cohen had 12 points and seven assists, including a big shot with just over a minute remaining to put Lehigh up by six. The possession prior, Tejada knocked down a big jumper to put Lehigh up by four.
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Lehigh continues to show impressive balance, with five Mountain Hawks in double figures (all scoring between 11 and 14 points) for the first time since Nov. 16 vs. Princeton. Beyond Lehigh's double-figure scorers, senior Kyle Leufroy had eight points, four rebounds and three assists while junior Ed Porter scored six points in just four minutes, seeing his first action in over a year.
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The Mountain Hawks didn't need their nation's-leading three-point shooting on Wednesday as their 35.6 percentage from distance (5-of-14) - still very solid - was their lowest percentage since shooting 28.6 percent at Kansas State (10 games ago). Wednesday's percentage was Lehigh's third lowest percentage from behind the arc all season. Lehigh is shooting 46.0 percent on the year, which still leads the nation.
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Lehigh drove to the basket, and converted on short jumpers and free throws Wednesday, shooting 57.4 percent from the field (31-of-54), including 65.0 percent from inside the arc (26-of-40). Wednesday marked the seventh time this season the Mountain Hawks have eclipsed 50 percent shooting (all coming in the last 12 games). Lehigh is up to 32nd nationally in field goal percentage (48.4).
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Lehigh and Bucknell has developed into a strong rivalry, with one of the two teams winning six of the last nine Patriot League Championships. Last season, the teams split with each winning on their home court. In the most recent meeting, the Mountain Hawks picked up a thrilling 92-89 win over the Bison in overtime.
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After Saturday, the Mountain Hawks hit the road on Wednesday to face Navy. Opening tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
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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: | January 19, 2019 |
Opponent: | Bucknell Bison |
Tip-off: | 12:00 PM |
Arena/Capacity: | Stabler Arena/5,600 |
Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
Lehigh's Record: | 11-5, 4-1 Patriot League  |
Bucknell's Record: | 10-7, 4-1 Patriot League |
Series: | Bucknell leads, 103-68 |
Radio: | Fox Sports Lehigh Valley 1230 and 1320 AM and Lehighsports.com with Tom Fallon and Greg Falkenbach '72. Pregame coverage gets underway at 11:30 a.m. |
Television: | Service Electric Channel 50 |
Internet Video: | Patriot League Network |
Behind Enemy Lines: | Bucknell Official Website |
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