Sunday, February 23
Bethlehem, Pa.
12 p.m.
Lehigh University
8-20,5-11Patriot
69
vs
60
Bucknell
11-18,7-9Patriot
1
2
F
Bucknell
27
33
60
Lehigh
36
33
69
Mountain Hawks celebrate Senior Day with wire-to-wire win over Bucknell
2/23/2020 5:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's basketball team jumped out to a 14-2 lead and wouldn't look back, never trailing in an impressive 69-60 win over visiting Bucknell on Sunday afternoon in Stabler Arena. The Mountain Hawk big men of junior James Karnik and sophomore Nic Lynch each scored 17 points to lead the offense while Jordan Cohen scored 13 points on his Senior Day. With the win, Lehigh remains in ninth place, but within two games of Bucknell, Loyola and Navy who are all tied for sixth in the league standings.
Karnik and Lynch also combined for 13 rebounds as the Mountain Hawks controlled the glass, 42-29. That included 11 offensive rebounds. Junior Marques Wilson grabbed a career-high 10 boards while sophomore Jeameril Wilson also had seven.
"It was terrific," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "We looked like a tough team out there. Part of it was the physical presence we could have with James and Nic, even putting Jeameril (Wilson) on the perimeter. It increased our length and size and helped us really control the glass. We were pretty efficient, especially having those two big guys working together.
"In an era where people don't necessarily play two big men, we wanted to try it. I'm glad it worked."
Defensively, the Mountain Hawks held Bucknell to 39.3 percent shooting (24-of-61) as they snapped a four-game losing skid against the Bison.
"There was great energy," said Reed. "I loved in the beginning of the game the number of deflections and challenges, creating difficult shots for Bucknell. Our offense was scoring at a reasonably effective clip, but we also did a really good job locking them down and establishing ourselves defensively. Guys came in, even off the bench, and really contributed to that. Reed Fenton, how many times did he dive on the floor for a loose ball? It was absolutely fantastic."
Early on, Lehigh used a 9-0 surge to open a 14-2 advantage, with Karnik and Lynch scoring 11 of those points. The Bison responded with an 8-0 run to pull within 14-10. With the Mountain Hawks leading 18-14 with 9:49 on the first-half clock, they used a 10-0 run (which later extended to 14-2) to open their largest lead of the game. An Evan Taylor 3-pointer gave Lehigh a 32-16 lead with 4:57 remaining in the first half.
Bucknell did end the half on an 11-4 run to pull within 36-27 after 20 minutes of play.
The Bison pulled as close as five (38-33) early in the second half, but the Mountain Hawks used a 7-0 surge to go back ahead 45-33 with 14:26 on the clock. Lynch and Karnik combined to score Lehigh's first 11 second-half points.
The Mountain Hawks' lead reached 15 following Cohen's second 3-pointer in the span of 47 seconds.
Bucknell had one last push, outscoring Lehigh 14-8 to turn a 12-point margin into a six-point, 66-60 Mountain Hawks' advantage with 1:26 remaining. Lehigh didn't let it get any closer, making enough stops and hitting enough free throws to wrap up the victory.
For the game, Lehigh finished 46.2 percent from the field (24-of-52), including 33.3 percent from 3-point range (4-of-12). Bucknell finished at 39.3 percent (24-of-61) and 21.9 percent from long distance (7-of-32).
Sunday was Senior Day as Cohen, Ed Porter, David Roelke and Jack Lieb were all recognized prior to opening tipoff.
"These young men have been great examples for Lehigh," said Reed. "They've really embodied the student-athlete experience. They've embraced academic challenges and they've embraced physical challenges, but in each case, they have stepped forward with a great deal of determination and focus. They're the type of young men who anybody would be very, very proud of.
"It was a great way to honor these four on Senior Day."
The Mountain Hawks return to Stabler Arena for their final home game of the regular season on Wednesday night against Boston University. Gametime is set for 7 p.m.
Lehigh Men's Basketball held Bucknell to under 45 percent shooting! Fans in attendance received a free appetizer with the purchase of two entrees courtesy of The Brick in Bethlehem!
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Gallery: (2/23/2020) Men's Basketball vs. Bucknell, 2/23/20
Karnik and Lynch also combined for 13 rebounds as the Mountain Hawks controlled the glass, 42-29. That included 11 offensive rebounds. Junior Marques Wilson grabbed a career-high 10 boards while sophomore Jeameril Wilson also had seven.
"It was terrific," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "We looked like a tough team out there. Part of it was the physical presence we could have with James and Nic, even putting Jeameril (Wilson) on the perimeter. It increased our length and size and helped us really control the glass. We were pretty efficient, especially having those two big guys working together.
"In an era where people don't necessarily play two big men, we wanted to try it. I'm glad it worked."
Defensively, the Mountain Hawks held Bucknell to 39.3 percent shooting (24-of-61) as they snapped a four-game losing skid against the Bison.
"There was great energy," said Reed. "I loved in the beginning of the game the number of deflections and challenges, creating difficult shots for Bucknell. Our offense was scoring at a reasonably effective clip, but we also did a really good job locking them down and establishing ourselves defensively. Guys came in, even off the bench, and really contributed to that. Reed Fenton, how many times did he dive on the floor for a loose ball? It was absolutely fantastic."
Early on, Lehigh used a 9-0 surge to open a 14-2 advantage, with Karnik and Lynch scoring 11 of those points. The Bison responded with an 8-0 run to pull within 14-10. With the Mountain Hawks leading 18-14 with 9:49 on the first-half clock, they used a 10-0 run (which later extended to 14-2) to open their largest lead of the game. An Evan Taylor 3-pointer gave Lehigh a 32-16 lead with 4:57 remaining in the first half.
Bucknell did end the half on an 11-4 run to pull within 36-27 after 20 minutes of play.
James Karnik knows how to finish!! Big slam rounds out the first-half scoring for the Mountain Hawks. Watch: https://t.co/WUw3LKqhd3 pic.twitter.com/9DwoY35Dxl
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) February 23, 2020
The Bison pulled as close as five (38-33) early in the second half, but the Mountain Hawks used a 7-0 surge to go back ahead 45-33 with 14:26 on the clock. Lynch and Karnik combined to score Lehigh's first 11 second-half points.
The twin towers are continuing to control this game. Up to 24 points between the two of them after this Nic Lynch 3-point play. Mountain Hawks lead 43-33 at our first media timeout of the second half. Watch: https://t.co/WUw3LKqhd3 pic.twitter.com/HhGrdkJmn2
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) February 23, 2020
The Mountain Hawks' lead reached 15 following Cohen's second 3-pointer in the span of 47 seconds.
Is it Cohen time?! Maybe it is. Second straight 3-pointer puts the Mountain Hawks up 15. Bucknell has pulled within 54-44 with eight minutes left in the second half. Watch: https://t.co/WUw3LKqhd3 pic.twitter.com/W90QYZVTdz
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) February 23, 2020
Bucknell had one last push, outscoring Lehigh 14-8 to turn a 12-point margin into a six-point, 66-60 Mountain Hawks' advantage with 1:26 remaining. Lehigh didn't let it get any closer, making enough stops and hitting enough free throws to wrap up the victory.
For the game, Lehigh finished 46.2 percent from the field (24-of-52), including 33.3 percent from 3-point range (4-of-12). Bucknell finished at 39.3 percent (24-of-61) and 21.9 percent from long distance (7-of-32).
Sunday was Senior Day as Cohen, Ed Porter, David Roelke and Jack Lieb were all recognized prior to opening tipoff.
"These young men have been great examples for Lehigh," said Reed. "They've really embodied the student-athlete experience. They've embraced academic challenges and they've embraced physical challenges, but in each case, they have stepped forward with a great deal of determination and focus. They're the type of young men who anybody would be very, very proud of.
"It was a great way to honor these four on Senior Day."
So proud of these seniors. So proud of this team. pic.twitter.com/xOmtCkySl8
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) February 23, 2020
The Mountain Hawks return to Stabler Arena for their final home game of the regular season on Wednesday night against Boston University. Gametime is set for 7 p.m.
Lehigh Men's Basketball held Bucknell to under 45 percent shooting! Fans in attendance received a free appetizer with the purchase of two entrees courtesy of The Brick in Bethlehem!
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Team Stats
Buck
Lehigh
FG%
.393
.462
3FG%
.219
.333
FT%
.556
.739
RB
29
42
TO
9
12
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
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F
/ Men's BasketballG
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