Sunday, January 6
Bethlehem, Pa.
2 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Loyola
Photo by: Hunter Julius
Lehigh remains home Sunday to host Loyola on Camper Day
1/4/2019 4:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Following a thrilling 86-83 victory over Lafayette Wednesday night, the Lehigh men's basketball team remains home on Sunday to host Loyola at 2 p.m. on Camper Day. The Mountain Hawks came back from an eight-point halftime deficit vs. the Leopards, outscoring Lafayette 51-40 in the second to pick up the seventh straight win over their arch rivals, a new school record. Wednesday's game was highlighted by Lehigh's sizzling shooting, knocking down 11-of-14 three-pointers, with the 78.9 percentage standing as the best single-game percentage by any team in the nation this season.
Â
The Mountain Hawks won their third straight Patriot League opener to improve to 18-11 all-time in league openers. Head coach Brett Reed won his 206th career game to move into sole possession of third place in league history for wins.Â
Â
As part of Camper Day Sunday, all Lehigh Basketball campers can receive free entry into the game and parents can purchase tickets at the door for $5. Redeem at the ticket office Sunday by saying you're a camper.
Â
Lafayette opened as much as a 10-point first-half lead, leading 43-35 at the break. The second half saw plenty of runs. At one point in the second half, Lehigh went on an 8-0 run, which was immediately followed by a 7-0 Lafayette run, which was immediately followed by a 7-0 Mountain Hawks' run. Lehigh opened a four-point, 71-67 lead, following a Pat Andree three with 7:15 remaining. However, Lafayette battled back and took a two-point lead following a Justin Jaworski trey with 1:28 on the clock. But on the ensuing possession, senior Lance Tejada knocked down his fourth three of the game to give Lehigh an 84-83 lead, on the way to the 86-83 final.
Â
Andree (3-for-3) and Tejada (4-for-5) combined to knock down 7-of-8 threes on the evening. Six different Mountain Hawks connected on a three, as part of Lehigh's historic shooting. Andree finished an impressive game with his sixth-career double-double (and second this season) with 23 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 7-of-8 from the field (connecting on his first seven field goal attempts), including 3-of-3 from three and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Tejada posted 16 points and five assists while senior Kyle Leufroy had 12 points and two assists. Sophomores Caleb Bennett and Marques Wilson each scored seven points, each knocking down their only three-point attempts, while freshman Jeameril Wilson was stellar with six points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal in 21 minutes.
Â
Lehigh's three-point percentage is up to a nation's leading 46.7 percent this season (120-of-157). The second-place team (as of Friday) was Virginia Tech at 45.3 percent. Over their last three home games, the Mountain Hawks are shooting 62.3 percent from distance (33-of-53) and over their last six games total, Lehigh is shooting 52.1 percent (63-of-121). For perspective, the Patriot League record for a single season is 41.8 percent, set by Holy Cross in 1990-91. Lehigh finished last season ninth nationally in three-point percentage (40.9 percent).
Â
The Mountain Hawks also hit 19-of-20 free throws, becoming the first Division I team to shoot 75 percent from three and 95 percent from the charity stripe in the same game since Temple in 2010 vs. Rhode Island. They are one of just three Division I teams to accomplish the feat in the last 20 years.
Â
Under first-year head coach Tavaras Hardy, the Greyhounds stand 4-10 on the season, 0-1 in the Patriot League following an 80-73 defeat at home vs. Holy Cross. Loyola has lost four straight overall after a stretch when it won three-of-five games and went 4-4 over eight games. The team's wins have come vs. Delaware State, Hampton, Mount St. Mary's and Binghamton. Junior Andrew Kostecka has exploded onto the scene to lead Loyola (and the Patriot League) in scoring, averaging 21.0 points per game. He has also dished a team-leading 34 assists. Chuck Champion is averaging double figures (12.3), as is Brent Holcombe (11.0) who also leads the team in rebounding (6.0).
Â
Lehigh won at Loyola last February, 80-74, to snap a three-game losing streak against the Greyhounds. In the previous meeting, Loyola came back from a 17-point deficit to win, 91-88 in overtime. The year prior, Loyola won a pair of nail biters, 84-83 and 62-60. Prior to meeting as Patriot League opponents, the teams previously played on Nov. 26, 1988, an 86-72 Lehigh victory. The sides first met in 1912-13, a 41-19 Lehigh victory. Loyola's first win was in 1915-16 by a 35-15 final.
Â
After Sunday's game, the Mountain Hawks hit the road for two straight - at Holy Cross on Wednesday and Colgate on Saturday.
Â
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Â
Â
Â
The Mountain Hawks won their third straight Patriot League opener to improve to 18-11 all-time in league openers. Head coach Brett Reed won his 206th career game to move into sole possession of third place in league history for wins.Â
Â
As part of Camper Day Sunday, all Lehigh Basketball campers can receive free entry into the game and parents can purchase tickets at the door for $5. Redeem at the ticket office Sunday by saying you're a camper.
Â
Lafayette opened as much as a 10-point first-half lead, leading 43-35 at the break. The second half saw plenty of runs. At one point in the second half, Lehigh went on an 8-0 run, which was immediately followed by a 7-0 Lafayette run, which was immediately followed by a 7-0 Mountain Hawks' run. Lehigh opened a four-point, 71-67 lead, following a Pat Andree three with 7:15 remaining. However, Lafayette battled back and took a two-point lead following a Justin Jaworski trey with 1:28 on the clock. But on the ensuing possession, senior Lance Tejada knocked down his fourth three of the game to give Lehigh an 84-83 lead, on the way to the 86-83 final.
Â
Andree (3-for-3) and Tejada (4-for-5) combined to knock down 7-of-8 threes on the evening. Six different Mountain Hawks connected on a three, as part of Lehigh's historic shooting. Andree finished an impressive game with his sixth-career double-double (and second this season) with 23 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 7-of-8 from the field (connecting on his first seven field goal attempts), including 3-of-3 from three and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Tejada posted 16 points and five assists while senior Kyle Leufroy had 12 points and two assists. Sophomores Caleb Bennett and Marques Wilson each scored seven points, each knocking down their only three-point attempts, while freshman Jeameril Wilson was stellar with six points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal in 21 minutes.
Â
Lehigh's three-point percentage is up to a nation's leading 46.7 percent this season (120-of-157). The second-place team (as of Friday) was Virginia Tech at 45.3 percent. Over their last three home games, the Mountain Hawks are shooting 62.3 percent from distance (33-of-53) and over their last six games total, Lehigh is shooting 52.1 percent (63-of-121). For perspective, the Patriot League record for a single season is 41.8 percent, set by Holy Cross in 1990-91. Lehigh finished last season ninth nationally in three-point percentage (40.9 percent).
Â
The Mountain Hawks also hit 19-of-20 free throws, becoming the first Division I team to shoot 75 percent from three and 95 percent from the charity stripe in the same game since Temple in 2010 vs. Rhode Island. They are one of just three Division I teams to accomplish the feat in the last 20 years.
Â
Under first-year head coach Tavaras Hardy, the Greyhounds stand 4-10 on the season, 0-1 in the Patriot League following an 80-73 defeat at home vs. Holy Cross. Loyola has lost four straight overall after a stretch when it won three-of-five games and went 4-4 over eight games. The team's wins have come vs. Delaware State, Hampton, Mount St. Mary's and Binghamton. Junior Andrew Kostecka has exploded onto the scene to lead Loyola (and the Patriot League) in scoring, averaging 21.0 points per game. He has also dished a team-leading 34 assists. Chuck Champion is averaging double figures (12.3), as is Brent Holcombe (11.0) who also leads the team in rebounding (6.0).
Â
Lehigh won at Loyola last February, 80-74, to snap a three-game losing streak against the Greyhounds. In the previous meeting, Loyola came back from a 17-point deficit to win, 91-88 in overtime. The year prior, Loyola won a pair of nail biters, 84-83 and 62-60. Prior to meeting as Patriot League opponents, the teams previously played on Nov. 26, 1988, an 86-72 Lehigh victory. The sides first met in 1912-13, a 41-19 Lehigh victory. Loyola's first win was in 1915-16 by a 35-15 final.
Â
After Sunday's game, the Mountain Hawks hit the road for two straight - at Holy Cross on Wednesday and Colgate on Saturday.
Â
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Â
| Date: | January 6, 2019 |
| Opponent: | Loyola Greyhounds |
| Tip-off: | 2:00 PM |
| Arena/Capacity: | Stabler Arena/5,600 |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 8-4, 1-0 Patriot League  |
| Lafayette's Record: | 4-10, 0-1 Patriot League |
| Series: | Loyola leads, 10-9 |
| Radio: | WLVR 91.3 FM and Lehighsports.com with Tom Fallon and Greg Falkenbach '72. Pregame coverage gets underway at 1:45 p.m. |
| Television: | Service Electric 2 Sports |
| Internet Video: | Patriot League Network |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | Loyola Official Website |
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballSeason Preview: Men's Basketball
Thursday, October 31
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Basketball
Wednesday, October 30
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Basketball
Wednesday, February 07
Men's Basketball vs SUNY Oneonta
Thursday, November 16
