Saturday, March 2
Baltimore, Md.
7 p.m.
Lehigh University
19-10, 12-6PL
73
at
92
Loyola
11-20, 7-11PL
1
2
F
Lehigh
37
36
73
Loyola Maryland
46
46
92
Loyola tops Mountain Hawks in regular-season finale, 92-73
3/2/2019 11:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BALTIMORE – Loyola knocked down 12-of-16 three-pointers to help spark its offense, and it proved too much for the Lehigh men's basketball team to overcome as the Greyhounds picked up a 92-73 win on Saturday evening in Reitz Arena. Freshman Nic Lynch was strong off the bench, recording 12 points and a career-high 13 rebounds in 22 minutes, good for his third-career double-double. Senior Kyle Leufroy and junior Jordan Cohen each scored a team-high 16 points in the defeat. The Mountain Hawks (19-10, 12-6 PL) will enter the Patriot League Tournament as the No. 3 seed and host sixth-seeded Army West Point in the quarterfinals on Thursday, Mar. 7 at 7 p.m. in Stabler Arena.
"I thought Loyola played well, but unfortunately, they were very comfortable," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "As they got more comfortable, they got more confident. As they got more confident, it became a snowball that was hard to stop."
Seven of Lynch's 13 boards were on the offensive glass, while he also added a career-high three blocks and a steal. Leufroy finished with 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, a block and steal while Cohen tallied four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Senior Lance Tejada rounded out four Mountain Hawks in double figures with 14 points.
"You can't fault what Nic was trying to do," said Reed. "Not everything was perfect, but he brought a big presence. He played hard and was out there competing."
With Lehigh leading 8-4 early, Loyola staged a 13-2 run, capped off by a Kenneth Jones jumper to give the Greyhounds a 17-10 edge with 13:16 left in the first half.
Four quick Mountain Hawk points, behind baskets from freshmen Joe Foley and Lynch, pulled Lehigh within 19-16. A few minutes later, a Tejada trey pulled Lehigh within one, 25-24, with 8:49 left in the first half.
Not long after, the Greyhounds used a 7-0 run capped off by another three to take a 39-29 lead with 3:41 on the clock. A Cohen trey in the final minute pulled Lehigh within seven, but an Isaiah Hart basket gave the Greyhounds a 46-37 halftime edge.
Loyola quickly opened a double-figure lead in the second half, which remained for the remainder of the game. Early on, a Leufroy jumper pulled Lehigh within 53-42 then just 40 seconds later, a Leufroy trey pulled the Mountain Hawks back within 11 at 56-45.
Loyola continued to have answers, opening an 18-point, 72-54 lead. The Mountain Hawks scored seven straight to get back within 11, but that's as close as they would come. A 13-1 run gave the Greyhounds an 85-62 edge with 4:39 remaining, on the way to the 92-73 final.
For the game, the Mountain Hawks shot 41.9 percent from the field (20-of-62) and 34.8 percent from three-point range (8-of-23). Loyola finished at 53.3 percent (32-of-60) and 75.0 percent from distance (12-of-16). Lehigh held a 35-33 edge in rebounds.
"To some degree, Loyola shot a little bit uncharacteristically. We need to keep that in perspective, but nonetheless, I'm a big believer that defense has to dictate," said Reed. "Defense can't be reactionary and what they ended up doing a very good job of was making hard cuts that set up the separation they needed for some of their shots."
The Mountain Hawks return to action on Thursday when they host sixth-seeded Army West Point at 7 p.m. for the Patriot League Quarterfinals. Tickets are available online and can be purchased by clicking here.
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
"I thought Loyola played well, but unfortunately, they were very comfortable," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "As they got more comfortable, they got more confident. As they got more confident, it became a snowball that was hard to stop."
Seven of Lynch's 13 boards were on the offensive glass, while he also added a career-high three blocks and a steal. Leufroy finished with 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, a block and steal while Cohen tallied four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Senior Lance Tejada rounded out four Mountain Hawks in double figures with 14 points.
"You can't fault what Nic was trying to do," said Reed. "Not everything was perfect, but he brought a big presence. He played hard and was out there competing."
What a block by Nic Lynch!! #SCTop10
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) March 3, 2019
Watch: https://t.co/WUw3LK8FOt. pic.twitter.com/ALzDTprREw
With Lehigh leading 8-4 early, Loyola staged a 13-2 run, capped off by a Kenneth Jones jumper to give the Greyhounds a 17-10 edge with 13:16 left in the first half.
Four quick Mountain Hawk points, behind baskets from freshmen Joe Foley and Lynch, pulled Lehigh within 19-16. A few minutes later, a Tejada trey pulled Lehigh within one, 25-24, with 8:49 left in the first half.
Six-point surge capped off by this Tejada trey pulls the Mountain Hawks back within 25-24.
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) March 3, 2019
Watch: https://t.co/WUw3LK8FOt. pic.twitter.com/Ks9VbS77Sc
Not long after, the Greyhounds used a 7-0 run capped off by another three to take a 39-29 lead with 3:41 on the clock. A Cohen trey in the final minute pulled Lehigh within seven, but an Isaiah Hart basket gave the Greyhounds a 46-37 halftime edge.
Jordan Cohen with his THIRD three of the half to get Lehigh back to within seven. Final minute of the first half.
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) March 3, 2019
Watch: https://t.co/WUw3LK8FOt. pic.twitter.com/ItGGp1sBC5
Loyola quickly opened a double-figure lead in the second half, which remained for the remainder of the game. Early on, a Leufroy jumper pulled Lehigh within 53-42 then just 40 seconds later, a Leufroy trey pulled the Mountain Hawks back within 11 at 56-45.
Loyola hitting a bunch of threes. Leufroy answers with this trey. He's up to 11 points for the game.
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) March 3, 2019
Watch: https://t.co/WUw3LK8FOt. pic.twitter.com/sppsqcgN46
Loyola continued to have answers, opening an 18-point, 72-54 lead. The Mountain Hawks scored seven straight to get back within 11, but that's as close as they would come. A 13-1 run gave the Greyhounds an 85-62 edge with 4:39 remaining, on the way to the 92-73 final.
For the game, the Mountain Hawks shot 41.9 percent from the field (20-of-62) and 34.8 percent from three-point range (8-of-23). Loyola finished at 53.3 percent (32-of-60) and 75.0 percent from distance (12-of-16). Lehigh held a 35-33 edge in rebounds.
"To some degree, Loyola shot a little bit uncharacteristically. We need to keep that in perspective, but nonetheless, I'm a big believer that defense has to dictate," said Reed. "Defense can't be reactionary and what they ended up doing a very good job of was making hard cuts that set up the separation they needed for some of their shots."
The Mountain Hawks return to action on Thursday when they host sixth-seeded Army West Point at 7 p.m. for the Patriot League Quarterfinals. Tickets are available online and can be purchased by clicking here.
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Team Stats
LEHIGH
LOYOLA
FG%
.419
.533
3FG%
.348
.750
FT%
.722
.667
RB
35
33
TO
14
14
STL
7
12
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
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