Saturday, January 2
Bethlehem, Pa.
2 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Lafayette
Mountain Hawks Return to the Hardwood With Opening-Weekend Showdowns vs. Lafayette
12/31/2020 3:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's basketball team will open a long-awaited, much-anticipated 2020-21 season this weekend as it hosts Lafayette on Saturday before traveling to Lafayette on Sunday. Opening tipoff Saturday is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+ while Sunday's showdown will begin at 4 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. The Mountain Hawks hope the momentum from late last season continues in 2021, after they won six of their final nine games, with seven of the team's top nine scorers returning.
The Mountain Hawks feature a unique team in that it's very young (six freshmen, five sophomores, two juniors and one senior), but quite experienced at the same time. Each of Lehigh's upperclassmen (senior Marques Wilson and juniors Jeameril Wilson and Nic Lynch) have seen significant playing time in their careers, as has sophomores like Reed Fenton and Evan Taylor. Other sophomores Jakob Alamudun, Jake Betlow and Andrei Arion all played considerable minutes last season as well.
The biggest difference this season for Lehigh is the lack of nonleague contests, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mountain Hawks have been hard at work in practice, getting ready for a sprint of a 16-game regular-season slate. Lehigh is in the central "mini-conference," along with rivals Lafayette and Bucknell; the Mountain Hawks will face the Leopards and Bison four times apiece, while also playing eight games against those in other mini conferences. In the end, eight teams will qualify for the Patriot League Tournament, with the winner of each mini conference (based on mini conference record) earning a top three seed.
Jeameril Wilson is Lehigh's leading returning scorer (10.6) and rebounder (5.3). Lynch averaged 9.6 points per contest a season ago while Marques Wilson scored 9.1 per contests. All three enjoyed impressive finishes to last season, and look to take on increased leadership roles as juniors and seniors, respectively.
On Nov. 9, The Patriot League Council of Presidents endorsed a plan for a league-only men's and women's basketball schedule for the 2020-21 season. The 10 Patriot League institutions are divided into three regional mini-conferences with teams playing four games against each regional opponent. Additional league games are being played outside of the mini-conferences to complete the 16-game regular-season schedule. To reduce travel and overnight stays, schools will play against the same opponent on consecutive days, primarily Saturdays and Sundays, with a limited number of exceptions.
Mini conference standings will be based off mini conference record (win percentage) against each other. Each of the three mini-conference winners will earn a top three seed in the Patriot League Tournament field and the right to host a quarterfinal game. Each of the second-place mini-conference finishers will also earn spots in the field (as the fourth, fifth or sixth seed), while the seventh and eighth seeds will be determined by overall in-league winning percentage. Seventh and eighth will be determined by overall Patriot League winning percentage.
Lehigh dropped a 74-56 home contest to Lafayette last January to snap an eight-game losing streak, but quickly responded just 14 days later with an impressive, hard-fought 62-59 victory. Lafayette leads the all-time series, 144-90. Overall, the Mountain Hawks have won six straight at Lafayette and four of the last five at home. Lehigh has won nine of the last 10 meetings overall vs. its arch rival. The long-time rivals first met in 1901-92, a 46-13 Lehigh victory. Lehigh won the first four games with Lafayette's first win coming in 1914-15.
Lafayette enjoyed a resurgent season in 2019-20, finishing 19-12 overall, 10-8 in Patriot League play. The Leopards tied for fourth and earned the No. 5 seed, winning at fourth-seeded Army West Point, 73-68 in the Patriot League Quarterfinals before falling at Colgate in the semis. Lafayette returns an experienced roster, including four of the five starters from its Patriot League semifinal contest (not to mention preseason All-Patriot League honoree Justin Jaworski, who missed the final seven games of the season. Jaworski was top-five in the league in scoring (17.1). E.J. Stephens also returns after averaging double figures last season (12.1). Lafayette did lose its top two rebounders from a season ago to graduation in Myles Cherry (7.0) and Lukas Jarrett (5.0).
After this weekend's games, the Mountain Hawks face American next weekend, hosting the Eagles on Saturday (Jan. 9) before traveling to American on Sunday (Jan. 10).
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
The Mountain Hawks feature a unique team in that it's very young (six freshmen, five sophomores, two juniors and one senior), but quite experienced at the same time. Each of Lehigh's upperclassmen (senior Marques Wilson and juniors Jeameril Wilson and Nic Lynch) have seen significant playing time in their careers, as has sophomores like Reed Fenton and Evan Taylor. Other sophomores Jakob Alamudun, Jake Betlow and Andrei Arion all played considerable minutes last season as well.
The biggest difference this season for Lehigh is the lack of nonleague contests, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mountain Hawks have been hard at work in practice, getting ready for a sprint of a 16-game regular-season slate. Lehigh is in the central "mini-conference," along with rivals Lafayette and Bucknell; the Mountain Hawks will face the Leopards and Bison four times apiece, while also playing eight games against those in other mini conferences. In the end, eight teams will qualify for the Patriot League Tournament, with the winner of each mini conference (based on mini conference record) earning a top three seed.
Jeameril Wilson is Lehigh's leading returning scorer (10.6) and rebounder (5.3). Lynch averaged 9.6 points per contest a season ago while Marques Wilson scored 9.1 per contests. All three enjoyed impressive finishes to last season, and look to take on increased leadership roles as juniors and seniors, respectively.
On Nov. 9, The Patriot League Council of Presidents endorsed a plan for a league-only men's and women's basketball schedule for the 2020-21 season. The 10 Patriot League institutions are divided into three regional mini-conferences with teams playing four games against each regional opponent. Additional league games are being played outside of the mini-conferences to complete the 16-game regular-season schedule. To reduce travel and overnight stays, schools will play against the same opponent on consecutive days, primarily Saturdays and Sundays, with a limited number of exceptions.
Mini conference standings will be based off mini conference record (win percentage) against each other. Each of the three mini-conference winners will earn a top three seed in the Patriot League Tournament field and the right to host a quarterfinal game. Each of the second-place mini-conference finishers will also earn spots in the field (as the fourth, fifth or sixth seed), while the seventh and eighth seeds will be determined by overall in-league winning percentage. Seventh and eighth will be determined by overall Patriot League winning percentage.
Lehigh dropped a 74-56 home contest to Lafayette last January to snap an eight-game losing streak, but quickly responded just 14 days later with an impressive, hard-fought 62-59 victory. Lafayette leads the all-time series, 144-90. Overall, the Mountain Hawks have won six straight at Lafayette and four of the last five at home. Lehigh has won nine of the last 10 meetings overall vs. its arch rival. The long-time rivals first met in 1901-92, a 46-13 Lehigh victory. Lehigh won the first four games with Lafayette's first win coming in 1914-15.
Lafayette enjoyed a resurgent season in 2019-20, finishing 19-12 overall, 10-8 in Patriot League play. The Leopards tied for fourth and earned the No. 5 seed, winning at fourth-seeded Army West Point, 73-68 in the Patriot League Quarterfinals before falling at Colgate in the semis. Lafayette returns an experienced roster, including four of the five starters from its Patriot League semifinal contest (not to mention preseason All-Patriot League honoree Justin Jaworski, who missed the final seven games of the season. Jaworski was top-five in the league in scoring (17.1). E.J. Stephens also returns after averaging double figures last season (12.1). Lafayette did lose its top two rebounders from a season ago to graduation in Myles Cherry (7.0) and Lukas Jarrett (5.0).
After this weekend's games, the Mountain Hawks face American next weekend, hosting the Eagles on Saturday (Jan. 9) before traveling to American on Sunday (Jan. 10).
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
| Date: | January 2 & 3, 2021 |
| Opponent: | Lafayette Leopards |
| Tip-off: | 2 p.m. (1/2) 4 p.m. (1/3) |
| Arena: | Stabler Arena (1/2) Kirby Sports Center (1/3) |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. (1/2) Easton, Pa. (1/3) |
| Lehigh's Record: | 0-0, 0-0 Central |
| Lafayette's Record: | 0-0, 0-0 Central |
| Series: | Lafayette leads, 144-90 |
| TV: | ESPN+ (1/2) CBS Sports Network (1/3) |
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