Sunday, March 10
Lewisburg, Pa.
2 p.m.
Lehigh University
20-10
75
at
97
Bucknell (Semifinals)
20-11
1
2
F
Lehigh
39
36
75
Bucknell
45
52
97
Mountain Hawks fall short in Patriot League Semifinals at Bucknell, 97-75
3/10/2019 5:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – After a back-and-forth first half which saw Lehigh lead by as much as six, Bucknell used a 10-0 second-half run to open a 16-point lead, and the Bison would lead by double figures the rest of the way as the Mountain Hawks' season ended with a 97-75 defeat in the Patriot League Semifinals on Sunday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion. Lehigh hit just two of its first 11 three-pointers, and didn't have an answer for the Bison duo of Kimbal Mackenzie and Nate Sestina, who combined for 48 points. Junior Jordan Cohen led Lehigh's offense with 23 points. The Mountain Hawks end their season at 20-11, their second 20-win season in the last three years.
"It's disappointing. Unfortunately, that element of the game – defense – kept us from being a great team," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "We were a good team, but we were not a great team and the principle reason is we didn't defend with the same type of commitment that we needed. I have to give Bucknell credit; they made plays. We had the points in the paint advantage in the first half, then we gave up 20 points in the paint in the second half – and a couple guys made some threes. That's hard to guard. But whether it's fouling, giving up an and-one or giving up a layup, those things ultimately kill you."
Cohen finished 6-of-10 from the field, 2-of-3 from three and 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Seniors Kyle Leufroy and Lance Tejada each scored 11 points, wrapping up their tremendous careers. Each eclipsed 1,000 collegiate points, with each earning All-Patriot League distinction during their decorated careers.
Bucknell was led by Mackenzie, who scored 25 points, 19 coming in the first half.
"I will say this about ourteam; their unity and togetherness was at a pretty great level," said Reed. "They cared for each other. They supported each other. They were willing to be unselfish and buy into helping each other out. That's a great characteristic that I want from their experience with Lehigh. That was a characteristic that could have made us great, but if you have a major Achilles heel and you can't really rectify it, it's hard to take that next step. I thought the zone gave us some opportunities in the first half. In the second half, there were some plays that [Bucknell] made. We would defend for 25 seconds and then all of a sudden, there would be a blow by or somebody would get into the paint. That was disappointing."
The teams went back-and-forth through much of the first half, with the Bison opening early leads of 9-6 and eventually 14-9.
The Mountain Hawks had a big answer, staging an 11-0 run, which ended with a James Karnik dunk and Leufroy three-pointer, to put Lehigh ahead 20-14 with 10:35 on the first-half clock.
Lehigh either led or was tied for the ensuing minutes, as a Nic Lynch layup and later Cohen three helped the Mountain Hawks regain leads after Bucknell pulled even.
A Mackenzie three with 5:50 remaining gave the Bison the lead back, 30-28. The lead swelled to seven, Lehigh used a 6-0 run to pull back within one, but Bucknell responded to take a 45-39 halftime advantage.
The teams traded baskets early in the second half until the Bison's 10-0 run, capped off by consecutive Sestina threes to put Bucknell ahead 61-45 with 12:59 on the clock.
The margin reached as much as 19, 72-53, with 8:54 remaining. The Mountain Hawks inched closer, using a 15-6 run, capped off by five straight Jeameril Wilson points, to pull within 78-68 with 4:57 remaining. That's as close as the Mountain Hawks would come, however, as the Bison used a 9-0 surge to turn a 13-point lead to 22 with 1:33 on the clock, on the way to the 97-75 final.
For the game, the Mountain Hawks shot 44.4 percent from the field (24-of-54), including 33.3 percent from three-point range (5-of-15). Bucknell shot 66.7 percent in the second half (16-of-24) to finish at 53.4 percent for the game (31-of-58). The Bison were 38.7 percent from three (12-of-31). Bucknell held a 34-27 edge in rebounds.
Lehigh wraps up its season with a 20-11 record, its second 20-win season in the last three years. The Mountain Hawks finished 12-6 in league play and have now won double-figure Patriot League games in five straight years, and earned a top-four seed (and Patriot League Quarterfinal home game) in nine of the last 10 seasons.
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
"It's disappointing. Unfortunately, that element of the game – defense – kept us from being a great team," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "We were a good team, but we were not a great team and the principle reason is we didn't defend with the same type of commitment that we needed. I have to give Bucknell credit; they made plays. We had the points in the paint advantage in the first half, then we gave up 20 points in the paint in the second half – and a couple guys made some threes. That's hard to guard. But whether it's fouling, giving up an and-one or giving up a layup, those things ultimately kill you."
Cohen finished 6-of-10 from the field, 2-of-3 from three and 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Seniors Kyle Leufroy and Lance Tejada each scored 11 points, wrapping up their tremendous careers. Each eclipsed 1,000 collegiate points, with each earning All-Patriot League distinction during their decorated careers.
Bucknell was led by Mackenzie, who scored 25 points, 19 coming in the first half.
"I will say this about ourteam; their unity and togetherness was at a pretty great level," said Reed. "They cared for each other. They supported each other. They were willing to be unselfish and buy into helping each other out. That's a great characteristic that I want from their experience with Lehigh. That was a characteristic that could have made us great, but if you have a major Achilles heel and you can't really rectify it, it's hard to take that next step. I thought the zone gave us some opportunities in the first half. In the second half, there were some plays that [Bucknell] made. We would defend for 25 seconds and then all of a sudden, there would be a blow by or somebody would get into the paint. That was disappointing."
The teams went back-and-forth through much of the first half, with the Bison opening early leads of 9-6 and eventually 14-9.
And one for LT! Watch on @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/NuHfRE39lx
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) March 10, 2019
The Mountain Hawks had a big answer, staging an 11-0 run, which ended with a James Karnik dunk and Leufroy three-pointer, to put Lehigh ahead 20-14 with 10:35 on the first-half clock.
James Karnik is FIRED UP 🔥
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) March 10, 2019
Watch on @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/4USgpoEl1r
Lehigh either led or was tied for the ensuing minutes, as a Nic Lynch layup and later Cohen three helped the Mountain Hawks regain leads after Bucknell pulled even.
Great vision 👀 leading to a Lynch ✌🏼
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) March 10, 2019
Watch on @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/MBgnKBloqt
A Mackenzie three with 5:50 remaining gave the Bison the lead back, 30-28. The lead swelled to seven, Lehigh used a 6-0 run to pull back within one, but Bucknell responded to take a 45-39 halftime advantage.
The teams traded baskets early in the second half until the Bison's 10-0 run, capped off by consecutive Sestina threes to put Bucknell ahead 61-45 with 12:59 on the clock.
The margin reached as much as 19, 72-53, with 8:54 remaining. The Mountain Hawks inched closer, using a 15-6 run, capped off by five straight Jeameril Wilson points, to pull within 78-68 with 4:57 remaining. That's as close as the Mountain Hawks would come, however, as the Bison used a 9-0 surge to turn a 13-point lead to 22 with 1:33 on the clock, on the way to the 97-75 final.
For the game, the Mountain Hawks shot 44.4 percent from the field (24-of-54), including 33.3 percent from three-point range (5-of-15). Bucknell shot 66.7 percent in the second half (16-of-24) to finish at 53.4 percent for the game (31-of-58). The Bison were 38.7 percent from three (12-of-31). Bucknell held a 34-27 edge in rebounds.
Lehigh wraps up its season with a 20-11 record, its second 20-win season in the last three years. The Mountain Hawks finished 12-6 in league play and have now won double-figure Patriot League games in five straight years, and earned a top-four seed (and Patriot League Quarterfinal home game) in nine of the last 10 seasons.
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Team Stats
Lehigh
Buck
FG%
.444
.534
3FG%
.333
.387
FT%
.846
.852
RB
27
34
TO
14
15
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
9
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
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