Lehigh University Athletics
Saturday, March 2
Baltimore, Md.
7 p.m.
Lehigh University
at
Loyola
Lehigh wraps up regular season at Loyola Saturday with first place still up for grabs
3/1/2019 12:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Following a convincing road win at American Wednesday, the Lehigh men's basketball team wraps up the regular season on Saturday at Loyola. Opening tipoff in Reitz Arena is set for 7 p.m. The Mountain Hawks handed the Eagles their largest defeat of the season and in doing so, moved into a three-way tie for first place in the Patriot League standings (Lehigh, Bucknell and Colgate are all 12-5). Lehigh will be vying for at least a share of a regular-season title for the first time since 2010.
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The Mountain Hawks need some help on Saturday to gain the top seed. To earn the No. 1 seed, Lehigh needs to beat Loyola, with losses by Colgate (at Lafayette) and Bucknell (home vs. Army West Point). If Lehigh wins and one of the two teams lose, the Mountain Hawks would be the No. 2 seed. If Colgate and Bucknell both win, Lehigh would be the No. 3 seed regardless of its result against the Greyhounds.
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On Wednesday, the Mountain Hawks' defense stood tall early, not allowing a point for 3:44 and just two points over 5:31. Lehigh used a 9-0 run, beginning and ending with a Lance Tejada three, to take a 15-5 lead. American pulled as close as seven late in the stanza, but the Mountain Hawks went on to open a 36-22 halftime advantage.
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Lehigh kept the momentum going in the second, opening a 23-point lead on multiple occasions. American pulled as close as nine, but the Mountain Hawks immediately responded to reopen a 16-point lead on the way to the 80-66 win. The 14-point defeat by the Eagles marked their largest of the season. Their previous largest defeat was 12 points to Northwestern. It marked Lehigh's ninth straight win vs. American, all coming in senior Kyle Leufroy's career as he wrapped up undefeated regular seasons vs. both Lafayette and American. Leufroy finished with 18 points, six assists and three rebounds, shooting 9-of-9 from the free throw line. Freshman Jeameril Wilson, making his second-career start, had a career-high 17 points to go with six rebounds, two steals and a block. Sophomore James Karnik had 17 points (12 coming in the second half) along with eight boards and two blocks in just 23 minutes due to early foul trouble. Junior Jordan Cohen recorded 11 points while Tejada had 10, as five Mountain Hawks scored in double figures for the seventh time this season (and sixth time in 17 Patriot League games).
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The Mountain Hawks' defense was active all game, especially in the first half, as Lehigh allowed just 22 points - a season best for any half this season. For the game, Lehigh held the Eagles to just 40.3 percent shooting, including 23.8 percent from three. Meanwhile, Lehigh eclipsed 50 percent shooting for the 13th time this season (the Mountain Hawks are 11-2 in those games). They took just 14 three-pointers, hitting six for a 42.9 percentage. Wilson was 2-of-2 from distance and is now 7-of-14 for the year from three.
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Lehigh wrapped up this February 5-3 to improve to 27-5 in February since 2016. With a win this Saturday, Lehigh would tie a school record for Patriot League victories (13), set three years ago in 2015-16.
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Loyola is in the midst of an up-and-down Patriot League slate. The Greyhounds responded from a four-game losing streak with wins at American and vs. Navy. After that Navy game, Loyola fell at Boston University and Army West Point. Andrew Kostecka leads the Greyhounds, and Patriot League, in scoring (21.6) while adding 4.9 rebounds per contest. Chuck Champion comes in at 11.0 points per game while Isaiah Hart averages 9.9. The Greyhounds are shooting 45.6 percent from the field, while allowing opponents to shoot 48.7.
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Lehigh has won two straight against Loyola to pull even in the all-time series. Earlier this year, the Mountain Hawks picked up an 89-72 win and last season, Lehigh earned an 80-74 victory at Loyola to snap a three-game losing streak against the Greyhounds. 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.
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Following Saturday night, Lehigh looks ahead to the postseason and will host a Patriot League Quarterfinal next Thursday, Mar. 7 at 7 p.m. It marks the ninth time in the last 10 years the Mountain Hawks will be home for the quarterfinal round. Tickets are now available and may be purchased by clicking here.
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The Mountain Hawks need some help on Saturday to gain the top seed. To earn the No. 1 seed, Lehigh needs to beat Loyola, with losses by Colgate (at Lafayette) and Bucknell (home vs. Army West Point). If Lehigh wins and one of the two teams lose, the Mountain Hawks would be the No. 2 seed. If Colgate and Bucknell both win, Lehigh would be the No. 3 seed regardless of its result against the Greyhounds.
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On Wednesday, the Mountain Hawks' defense stood tall early, not allowing a point for 3:44 and just two points over 5:31. Lehigh used a 9-0 run, beginning and ending with a Lance Tejada three, to take a 15-5 lead. American pulled as close as seven late in the stanza, but the Mountain Hawks went on to open a 36-22 halftime advantage.
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Lehigh kept the momentum going in the second, opening a 23-point lead on multiple occasions. American pulled as close as nine, but the Mountain Hawks immediately responded to reopen a 16-point lead on the way to the 80-66 win. The 14-point defeat by the Eagles marked their largest of the season. Their previous largest defeat was 12 points to Northwestern. It marked Lehigh's ninth straight win vs. American, all coming in senior Kyle Leufroy's career as he wrapped up undefeated regular seasons vs. both Lafayette and American. Leufroy finished with 18 points, six assists and three rebounds, shooting 9-of-9 from the free throw line. Freshman Jeameril Wilson, making his second-career start, had a career-high 17 points to go with six rebounds, two steals and a block. Sophomore James Karnik had 17 points (12 coming in the second half) along with eight boards and two blocks in just 23 minutes due to early foul trouble. Junior Jordan Cohen recorded 11 points while Tejada had 10, as five Mountain Hawks scored in double figures for the seventh time this season (and sixth time in 17 Patriot League games).
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The Mountain Hawks' defense was active all game, especially in the first half, as Lehigh allowed just 22 points - a season best for any half this season. For the game, Lehigh held the Eagles to just 40.3 percent shooting, including 23.8 percent from three. Meanwhile, Lehigh eclipsed 50 percent shooting for the 13th time this season (the Mountain Hawks are 11-2 in those games). They took just 14 three-pointers, hitting six for a 42.9 percentage. Wilson was 2-of-2 from distance and is now 7-of-14 for the year from three.
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Lehigh wrapped up this February 5-3 to improve to 27-5 in February since 2016. With a win this Saturday, Lehigh would tie a school record for Patriot League victories (13), set three years ago in 2015-16.
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Loyola is in the midst of an up-and-down Patriot League slate. The Greyhounds responded from a four-game losing streak with wins at American and vs. Navy. After that Navy game, Loyola fell at Boston University and Army West Point. Andrew Kostecka leads the Greyhounds, and Patriot League, in scoring (21.6) while adding 4.9 rebounds per contest. Chuck Champion comes in at 11.0 points per game while Isaiah Hart averages 9.9. The Greyhounds are shooting 45.6 percent from the field, while allowing opponents to shoot 48.7.
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Lehigh has won two straight against Loyola to pull even in the all-time series. Earlier this year, the Mountain Hawks picked up an 89-72 win and last season, Lehigh earned an 80-74 victory at Loyola to snap a three-game losing streak against the Greyhounds. 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.
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Following Saturday night, Lehigh looks ahead to the postseason and will host a Patriot League Quarterfinal next Thursday, Mar. 7 at 7 p.m. It marks the ninth time in the last 10 years the Mountain Hawks will be home for the quarterfinal round. Tickets are now available and may be purchased by clicking here.
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| Date: | March 2, 2019 |
| Opponent: | Loyola Greyhounds |
| Tip-off: | 7 PM |
| Arena/Capacity: | Reitz Arena/2,100 |
| Location: | Baltimore, Md. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 19-9, 11-5 Patriot League  |
| American's Record: | 10-20, 6-11 Patriot League |
| Series: | Series tied, 10-10 |
| Radio: | Fox Sports Lehigh Valley 1230 and 1320 AM and Lehighsports.com with Tom Fallon. Pregame coverage gets underway at 6:30 p.m. |
| Television: | -- |
| Internet Video: | Patriot League Network |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | Loyola Official Website |
Players Mentioned
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