Tuesday, November 5
Bethlehem, Pa.
7 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Monmouth
Mountain Hawks set to open 2019-20 campaign at home Tuesday night vs. Monmouth
11/4/2019 11:34:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's basketball team is set to kick off the 2019-20 season on Tuesday when it hosts Monmouth at 7 p.m. in Stabler Arena. Tuesday will mark the earliest season opener in program history, one day earlier than last season's opener on Nov. 6 at Monmouth. The Mountain Hawks won that game in convincing fashion, 85-61. This year's team will look much different than that Lehigh team, but there are some strong foundational pieces in place returning as expectations remain high for the program.
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Lehigh is coming off a 20-win season in 2018-19, the program's second 20-win campaign in three years and fifth in the last 10 years. The Mountain Hawks earned the No. 3 seed and a home game in the Patriot League Quarterfinals for the ninth time in the last 10 years. Lehigh also won 12 league games, as the program's top three totals for Patriot League victories have come in the last four seasons (13 in 2015-16 and 12 in both 2016-17 and 2018-19).
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The Mountain Hawks lost significant offensive production from last year, but return a lot as well. Senior Jordan Cohen leads the Mountain Hawk returnees after averaging 13.6 points and 3.9 rebounds a season ago. Junior James Karnik is the other returning scorer, averaging 9.3 points and 6.1 rebounds. That included averaging double-figure points per contests in Patriot League play. Among Karnik's standout games was a career-high tying 21-point effort at Bucknell.
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With Cohen and Karnik leading the way, there are several other returnees who have seen flashes of success, including junior Marques Wilson, sophomore Jeameril Wilson, sophomore Nic Lynch and senior Ed Porter. Six freshmen look to make an impact as well.
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Tuesday will mark the first time Lehigh opens its season at home since Nov. 21, 2003 against Long Island, a 67-54 loss. The Mountain Hawks did open the 2014-15 campaign in the Lehigh Valley, but it was at the PPL Center in Allentown. With a win on Tuesday, Lehigh would win its third straight season opener after previously dropping eight in a row. The last time the Mountain Hawks won three consecutive openers was 1997, 1998 and 1999. With a win, Lehigh would defeat the same team in consecutive season openers for the first time since topping Muhlenberg to open the 1966-67 and 1967-68 campaigns.
Monmouth had a tough start to last season, but turned things around in MAAC play. The Hawks began the year 0-12, but went 14-9 from that point forward, including 10-8 in conference play. The team's top two scorers from a season ago, and four of its top five, return. Ray Salnave and Deion Hammond lead the way after averaging 11.9 and 11.8 points per game, respectively. Both were named to the preseason All-Conference second team. The team's third leading scorer, and top rebounder, graduated in Diago Quinn. Monmouth was predicted fourth in the MAAC preseason poll.
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Lehigh owns a 6-3 all-time edge vs. Monmouth, with the teams splitting each of the last two seasons. The last two meetings have seen the visitor come out victorious, with the Mountain Hawks winning at Monmouth last year (85-61) and Monmouth winning in Stabler in 2017 (80-72). That 2017 meeting was the first between the two sides since 2010. Lehigh won the first-ever meeting in 1987 by a 72-59 final, then after 18 years of not squaring off, the team reconvened every year from 2005-10. Monmouth earned its first-ever win over Lehigh in 2006, but the Mountain Hawks won the next three from 2007-09.
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Following Tuesday night's game, Lehigh heads to Albany this weekend to face the Great Danes on Saturday at 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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Lehigh is coming off a 20-win season in 2018-19, the program's second 20-win campaign in three years and fifth in the last 10 years. The Mountain Hawks earned the No. 3 seed and a home game in the Patriot League Quarterfinals for the ninth time in the last 10 years. Lehigh also won 12 league games, as the program's top three totals for Patriot League victories have come in the last four seasons (13 in 2015-16 and 12 in both 2016-17 and 2018-19).
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The Mountain Hawks lost significant offensive production from last year, but return a lot as well. Senior Jordan Cohen leads the Mountain Hawk returnees after averaging 13.6 points and 3.9 rebounds a season ago. Junior James Karnik is the other returning scorer, averaging 9.3 points and 6.1 rebounds. That included averaging double-figure points per contests in Patriot League play. Among Karnik's standout games was a career-high tying 21-point effort at Bucknell.
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With Cohen and Karnik leading the way, there are several other returnees who have seen flashes of success, including junior Marques Wilson, sophomore Jeameril Wilson, sophomore Nic Lynch and senior Ed Porter. Six freshmen look to make an impact as well.
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Tuesday will mark the first time Lehigh opens its season at home since Nov. 21, 2003 against Long Island, a 67-54 loss. The Mountain Hawks did open the 2014-15 campaign in the Lehigh Valley, but it was at the PPL Center in Allentown. With a win on Tuesday, Lehigh would win its third straight season opener after previously dropping eight in a row. The last time the Mountain Hawks won three consecutive openers was 1997, 1998 and 1999. With a win, Lehigh would defeat the same team in consecutive season openers for the first time since topping Muhlenberg to open the 1966-67 and 1967-68 campaigns.
ÂOn the eve of tomorrow night's season opener (at home vs. Monmouth at 7 p.m.), we caught up with head coach @BrettReed! pic.twitter.com/w4RMhbBnmn
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) November 5, 2019
Monmouth had a tough start to last season, but turned things around in MAAC play. The Hawks began the year 0-12, but went 14-9 from that point forward, including 10-8 in conference play. The team's top two scorers from a season ago, and four of its top five, return. Ray Salnave and Deion Hammond lead the way after averaging 11.9 and 11.8 points per game, respectively. Both were named to the preseason All-Conference second team. The team's third leading scorer, and top rebounder, graduated in Diago Quinn. Monmouth was predicted fourth in the MAAC preseason poll.
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Lehigh owns a 6-3 all-time edge vs. Monmouth, with the teams splitting each of the last two seasons. The last two meetings have seen the visitor come out victorious, with the Mountain Hawks winning at Monmouth last year (85-61) and Monmouth winning in Stabler in 2017 (80-72). That 2017 meeting was the first between the two sides since 2010. Lehigh won the first-ever meeting in 1987 by a 72-59 final, then after 18 years of not squaring off, the team reconvened every year from 2005-10. Monmouth earned its first-ever win over Lehigh in 2006, but the Mountain Hawks won the next three from 2007-09.
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Following Tuesday night's game, Lehigh heads to Albany this weekend to face the Great Danes on Saturday at 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: | November 5, 2019 |
| Opponent: | Monmouth Hawks |
| Tip-off: | 7:00 PM |
| Arena/Capacity: | Stabler Arena/5,600 |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 0-0, 0-0 Patriot League  |
| Monmouth Record: | 0-0, 0-0 Patriot League |
| Series: | Series tied, 26-26 |
| Radio: | Fox Sports Lehigh Valley 1230/1320 AM and 94.7 FM with Tom Fallon and Greg Falkenbach '72. Pregame coverage gets underway at 6:30 p.m. |
| Television: | Patriot League Network (Internet) |
| Internet Video: | Patriot League Network |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | Monmouth Official Website |
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