Saturday, November 16
Blacksburg, Va.
1:30 p.m.
Lehigh University
2-2,0-0Patriot
53
at
79
Virginia Tech
4-0,1-0ACC
1
2
F
Lehigh
32
21
53
Virginia Tech
37
42
79
Mountain Hawks hang tough early in defeat at Virginia Tech
11/16/2019 5:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's basketball team led by as much as six in the first half Saturday and trailed by just five after 20 minutes of play, but Virginia Tech outscored the Mountain Hawks 42-21 in the second half for the 79-53 victory. Lehigh shot 48.0 percent from the field in the first half (and 41.7 percent from 3-point range), but tides turned in the second as Lehigh couldn't pull off the upset against a Hokies' program coming off a Sweet 16 appearance. In the end, 19 Mountain Hawk turnovers also proved costly.
"I thought Virginia Tech did a very good job of collapsing on the ball," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "A lot of times, our ball handler was under duress. It led to a lot of turnovers for us, but we also had some unforced turnovers, which ultimately led to them being able to stretch the game. I believe in the middle of the first half, we had a series of five or six straight possessions with turnovers and we fell behind. We battled and kept it competitive for a while, but we could never truly capitalize and convert on the offensive end in the second half."
Senior Jordan Cohen and sophomore Jeameril Wilson each scored 11 points to lead the offense. Among Wilson's scoring was a thunderous, highlight-reel dunk less than two minutes into the second half.
In the end, eight Mountain Hawks attempted between five and eight field goal attempts. Freshman Reed Fenton and junior Marques Wilson each scored six points, combining to hit 3-of-7 3-pointers.
Lehigh got off to a fast start taking several early leads, due in large part to early 3-pointers from freshmen Evan Taylor and Fenton. Trailing 9-8, the Mountain Hawks staged a 7-0 run, capped off by an Ed Porter basket, to take a 15-9 lead with 12:58 on the first-half clock.
With Lehigh leading 18-13, the Hokies scored 10 straight points to go up 23-18, but the Mountain Hawks fought back and pulled even at 23 and later 25. Virginia Tech answered with a 7-0 surge, but two Cohen free throws with 1:39 on the clock rounded out the first-half scoring and helped keep the Mountain Hawks within striking distance (37-32) at the half.
Wilson's highlight dunk helped spark the Mountain Hawks early in the second half, but Virginia Tech came out of the locker room strong, eventually opening a double-digit lead. Lehigh was still within 12 with 12:15 remaining, but the Hokies used a 10-0 run to open a 22-point advantage. The Mountain Hawks could never get back in it, falling by the 79-53 final.
For the game, the Mountain Hawks shot 39.6 percent from the field (21-of-53) and 31.8 percent from 3-point range (7-of-22). The Hokies finished at 47.7 percent (31-of-65) and 37.8 percent from long range (14-of-37). Virginia Tech held a 36-28 edge in rebounds. Lehigh turned the ball over 19 times compared to just 10 for the Hokies.
"When you turn the basketball over, it gives them easy opportunities," said Reed. "The momentum of the game changed with our lack of execution and being sloppy with the ball."
Lehigh returns home on Monday to host Misericordia at 7:30 p.m. in the second game of a basketball doubleheader with the Mountain Hawk women.
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Gallery: (11/16/2019) Men's Basketball at Virginia Tech
"I thought Virginia Tech did a very good job of collapsing on the ball," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "A lot of times, our ball handler was under duress. It led to a lot of turnovers for us, but we also had some unforced turnovers, which ultimately led to them being able to stretch the game. I believe in the middle of the first half, we had a series of five or six straight possessions with turnovers and we fell behind. We battled and kept it competitive for a while, but we could never truly capitalize and convert on the offensive end in the second half."
Senior Jordan Cohen and sophomore Jeameril Wilson each scored 11 points to lead the offense. Among Wilson's scoring was a thunderous, highlight-reel dunk less than two minutes into the second half.
One of the best dunks you'll see 👀 By Jeameril Wilson at Virginia Tech this afternoon. Trust us, you'll want to watch every angle. #SCTop10 #PLTop3 @ESPNAssignDesk @marchmadness pic.twitter.com/YB1dq6z1Dv
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) November 16, 2019
In the end, eight Mountain Hawks attempted between five and eight field goal attempts. Freshman Reed Fenton and junior Marques Wilson each scored six points, combining to hit 3-of-7 3-pointers.
Lehigh got off to a fast start taking several early leads, due in large part to early 3-pointers from freshmen Evan Taylor and Fenton. Trailing 9-8, the Mountain Hawks staged a 7-0 run, capped off by an Ed Porter basket, to take a 15-9 lead with 12:58 on the first-half clock.
With Lehigh leading 18-13, the Hokies scored 10 straight points to go up 23-18, but the Mountain Hawks fought back and pulled even at 23 and later 25. Virginia Tech answered with a 7-0 surge, but two Cohen free throws with 1:39 on the clock rounded out the first-half scoring and helped keep the Mountain Hawks within striking distance (37-32) at the half.
Wilson's highlight dunk helped spark the Mountain Hawks early in the second half, but Virginia Tech came out of the locker room strong, eventually opening a double-digit lead. Lehigh was still within 12 with 12:15 remaining, but the Hokies used a 10-0 run to open a 22-point advantage. The Mountain Hawks could never get back in it, falling by the 79-53 final.
For the game, the Mountain Hawks shot 39.6 percent from the field (21-of-53) and 31.8 percent from 3-point range (7-of-22). The Hokies finished at 47.7 percent (31-of-65) and 37.8 percent from long range (14-of-37). Virginia Tech held a 36-28 edge in rebounds. Lehigh turned the ball over 19 times compared to just 10 for the Hokies.
"When you turn the basketball over, it gives them easy opportunities," said Reed. "The momentum of the game changed with our lack of execution and being sloppy with the ball."
Lehigh returns home on Monday to host Misericordia at 7:30 p.m. in the second game of a basketball doubleheader with the Mountain Hawk women.
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Team Stats
Lehigh
Hokies
FG%
.396
.477
3FG%
.318
.378
FT%
.800
.750
RB
28
36
TO
19
10
STL
5
8
Game Leaders
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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