Saturday, February 16
Boston, Mass.
4:30 p.m.
Lehigh University
17-8, 10-4PL
84
at
79
Boston University
11-16, 4-10PL
1
2
F
Lehigh
45
39
84
Boston University
32
47
79
Lehigh wins at Boston U. 84-79 for program’s first-ever regular-season sweep of Terriers
2/16/2019 8:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOSTON – The Lehigh men's basketball team opened a 19-point second-half lead then held off a late Boston University charge to down the Terriers, 84-79 on Saturday afternoon at Case Gymnasium. The win improved the Mountain Hawks' record to 17-8 on the year, 10-4 in Patriot League play as Lehigh wrapped up a regular-season sweep of Boston University for the first time in program history. The Mountain Hawks also improved to 8-0 after losses this year, having not lost back-to-back games all season. Once again, a balanced attack led the way as four Mountain Hawks scored between 13 and 18 points.
Senior Kyle Leufroy led the offense with 18 points, while adding four steals to tie a career high. Classmate Lance Tejada had 17 points and six assists, while sophomore James Karnik tallied 14 points, shooting 5-of-6 from the field. Junior Jordan Cohen scored 13 points. Cohen, Leufroy and Tejada all finished 3-of-6 from behind the arc.
"We really and legitimately played some beautiful basketball for long stretches of time," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "I thought in the first half, we had great balance. We got the ball inside, people were unselfish and it was moving around the perimeter. Everyone was getting easy opportunities. In the second half, the ball stuck a little bit. Pat Andree got us back on track with some quick, hard cuts moving the basketball. They were playing off each other in a beautiful and wonderful way."
Not to be forgotten, junior Pat Andree finished with nine points and a career-high 16 rebounds, the most rebounds by a Mountain Hawk since Tim Kempton on Mar. 8, 2017 at Bucknell. Freshman Jeameril Wilson filled up the stat sheet with six points, four rebounds and two assists. Classmate Joe Foley had five points and a block while also making several important defensive plays, including taking a charge in the final minutes.
"That charge was a beautiful thing," said Reed. "We really needed it. When he stepped in and gave up his body, it gave us a huge boost for a couple minutes. We had some opportunities to do that prior, but we didn't step in. Joe answered the call. He did a nice job bringing us energy and he did a nice job moving the basketball."
The teams went back-and-forth in the early going with seven lead changes before the first media timeout. Trailing 16-14, Leufroy knocked down a three to kick-start a 13-0 run with all the points scored by seniors – six from Leufroy and seven from Tejada. A Tejada trey gave the Mountain Hawks a 27-16 edge just over midway through the first half.
The Terriers came back to within 32-24, but a 7-0 Lehigh surge gave the Mountain Hawks a 39-24 lead.
Boston University tried to pull closer, but Cohen knocked a corner three as the first-half buzzer sounded to give Lehigh a 45-32 halftime advantage.
In the second half, the Mountain Hawks used a 9-2 run to increase an 11-point lead to 18 as a Leufroy steal and layup gave them a 63-45 advantage with 9:56 on the clock.
Less than a minute later, two Wilson free throws gave Lehigh its largest lead at 65-46. However, the Terriers had one last run in them, trimming an 18-point Mountain Hawk lead with 5:36 remaining down to two with 25 seconds on the clock. Boston University had a chance to take a lead, but an Andrew Petcash three was off the mark, Karnik grabbed a tough rebound, was fouled and hit two clutch free throws to ice the victory.
For the game, the Mountain Hawks shot 52.9 percent from the field (27-of-51), including 45.5 percent from three-point range (10-of-22). Boston University finished at 44.8 percent (30-of-67) and 46.2 percent from long distance (12-of-26). Lehigh held a 38-31 edge in rebounds.
"We didn't finish well," said Reed. "We turned the basketball over and we missed several free throws. We had an opportunity, based on what we had built, to be able to walk away from here comfortably. But we were playing against a team that was going to take some chances on defense. We have the chance to grow, but we need to be able to keep our focus for the full 40 minutes because Boston University was on full go and ready to attack."
Lehigh is set to return home on Wednesday, Feb. 20 to host Army West Point. Opening tipoff is set 7 p.m. and tickets may be purchased online by clicking here. Wednesday's game is presented by JFR Salvage.
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Senior Kyle Leufroy led the offense with 18 points, while adding four steals to tie a career high. Classmate Lance Tejada had 17 points and six assists, while sophomore James Karnik tallied 14 points, shooting 5-of-6 from the field. Junior Jordan Cohen scored 13 points. Cohen, Leufroy and Tejada all finished 3-of-6 from behind the arc.
"We really and legitimately played some beautiful basketball for long stretches of time," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "I thought in the first half, we had great balance. We got the ball inside, people were unselfish and it was moving around the perimeter. Everyone was getting easy opportunities. In the second half, the ball stuck a little bit. Pat Andree got us back on track with some quick, hard cuts moving the basketball. They were playing off each other in a beautiful and wonderful way."
Not to be forgotten, junior Pat Andree finished with nine points and a career-high 16 rebounds, the most rebounds by a Mountain Hawk since Tim Kempton on Mar. 8, 2017 at Bucknell. Freshman Jeameril Wilson filled up the stat sheet with six points, four rebounds and two assists. Classmate Joe Foley had five points and a block while also making several important defensive plays, including taking a charge in the final minutes.
Joe Foley stepping up BIG to take the charge.
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) February 16, 2019
Watch: https://t.co/R5TbR7FW7P pic.twitter.com/IhsmQVJgnx
"That charge was a beautiful thing," said Reed. "We really needed it. When he stepped in and gave up his body, it gave us a huge boost for a couple minutes. We had some opportunities to do that prior, but we didn't step in. Joe answered the call. He did a nice job bringing us energy and he did a nice job moving the basketball."
The teams went back-and-forth in the early going with seven lead changes before the first media timeout. Trailing 16-14, Leufroy knocked down a three to kick-start a 13-0 run with all the points scored by seniors – six from Leufroy and seven from Tejada. A Tejada trey gave the Mountain Hawks a 27-16 edge just over midway through the first half.
The Terriers came back to within 32-24, but a 7-0 Lehigh surge gave the Mountain Hawks a 39-24 lead.
Great defense and offense displayed in one 20-second clip. Enjoy.
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) February 16, 2019
Watch: https://t.co/R5TbR7FW7P pic.twitter.com/pa5Af6E7Bm
Boston University tried to pull closer, but Cohen knocked a corner three as the first-half buzzer sounded to give Lehigh a 45-32 halftime advantage.
Jordan Cohen, to beat the buzzer and Lehigh leads by 13 at the half! pic.twitter.com/8QALN8ogdO
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) February 16, 2019
In the second half, the Mountain Hawks used a 9-2 run to increase an 11-point lead to 18 as a Leufroy steal and layup gave them a 63-45 advantage with 9:56 on the clock.
Kyle Leufroy, from defense to offense in a flash.
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) February 16, 2019
Watch: https://t.co/R5TbR7FW7P pic.twitter.com/iATPMyWz7A
Less than a minute later, two Wilson free throws gave Lehigh its largest lead at 65-46. However, the Terriers had one last run in them, trimming an 18-point Mountain Hawk lead with 5:36 remaining down to two with 25 seconds on the clock. Boston University had a chance to take a lead, but an Andrew Petcash three was off the mark, Karnik grabbed a tough rebound, was fouled and hit two clutch free throws to ice the victory.
Huge. Big. Tough Rebound for James. Not enough adjectives to describe it.
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) February 16, 2019
Watch: https://t.co/R5TbR7FW7P pic.twitter.com/fdE7XlAT6Q
For the game, the Mountain Hawks shot 52.9 percent from the field (27-of-51), including 45.5 percent from three-point range (10-of-22). Boston University finished at 44.8 percent (30-of-67) and 46.2 percent from long distance (12-of-26). Lehigh held a 38-31 edge in rebounds.
"We didn't finish well," said Reed. "We turned the basketball over and we missed several free throws. We had an opportunity, based on what we had built, to be able to walk away from here comfortably. But we were playing against a team that was going to take some chances on defense. We have the chance to grow, but we need to be able to keep our focus for the full 40 minutes because Boston University was on full go and ready to attack."
Lehigh is set to return home on Wednesday, Feb. 20 to host Army West Point. Opening tipoff is set 7 p.m. and tickets may be purchased online by clicking here. Wednesday's game is presented by JFR Salvage.
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Team Stats
LEHIGH
BOSTONU
FG%
.529
.448
3FG%
.455
.462
FT%
.769
.467
RB
38
31
TO
16
10
STL
6
9
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
5
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
C/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
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