Tuesday, November 16
West Long Branch, N.J.
7 p.m.
Lehigh University
at
Monmouth
Photo by: Justin Lafleur
Mountain Hawks and Monmouth Hawks Ready for Tuesday Showdown
11/15/2021 3:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's basketball team is set for a pair of road games in four days, beginning with a Tuesday night showdown at Monmouth in what has become a strong regional matchup. Opening tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN3. The Mountain Hawks are 0-2 on the young season, with an overtime loss at Rutgers followed by a tough 73-56 defeat vs. NJIT in Saturday's home opener.
For fans attending Tuesday's game, please note Monmouth's spectator protocols, which require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test administered by a doctor's office or a clinic within 72 hours of the event time. Home test kit results will not be accepted.
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Ironically enough, each of Lehigh's first three games of the season will be home openers for that respective team. It began with the two games last week, while Tuesday is Monmouth's first home game. Against NJIT, the Mountain Hawks opened a 10-5 advantage, but struggled from there. The Highlanders led 36-23 at the half, Lehigh pulled as close as six in the second half, but NJIT immediately responded with a 17-2 run to open a 64-43 lead with 4:52 remaining, proving too much for Lehigh to overcome. It was just Lehigh's fourth loss in its last 16 home openers.
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Fifth-year senior Marques Wilson led Lehigh in scoring for the second straight game, finishing with 15 points. Senior Jeameril Wilson added 13 on 4-of-7 shooting, along with five rebounds and two steals. Jeameril also drew eight of NJIT's 21 fouls on the evening. Ten other Mountain Hawks got on the scoreboard, but none had more than five points. Freshman Tyler Whitney-Sidney had five for his first-career points, while sophomore JT Tan saw his first collegiate action late in the first half and posted a point, rebound and steal.
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Junior Evan Taylor tied a career high with three steals. Late in the game, sophomore Jayshen Saigal posted his first collegiate points via a 3-pointer. The Mountain Hawks struggled offensively, shooting just 33.3 percent from the field (18-of-54), one game after shooting 47.4 percent at Rutgers. After 22 turnovers against the Scarlet Knights, Lehigh had 19 on Saturday. However, after 13 in the first half, the Mountain Hawks had just six in the second.
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Lehigh and Monmouth will square off for the fourth time in the last five seasons (the only season missed was last year during the COVID-19 altered season). This year's Monmouth team is a veteran group with its starting five through two games featuring four fifth-year players and a senior
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Lehigh leads the all-time series vs. Monmouth, 6-4. The teams first met on Dec. 30, 1987 - a 72-59 Lehigh victory. Nine of the 10 meetings have come since 2005. In each of the previous two meetings, the visitor spoiled the home team's home opener. Lehigh won at Monmouth in 2018 by an impressive 85-61 final before Monmouth won at Lehigh in 2019, 66-62.
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Monmouth stands 1-1 on the young season, falling at Charlotte in the opener (68-66) then winning at Towson (79-71). The Hawks' starting lineup thus far has featured four graduate students, and a senior. Walker Miller is leading the team in scoring (17.0) and rebounding (7.5) while George Papas isn't far behind with 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest. Shavar Reynolds Jr. is averaging 12.0 points per contest so far. Both Papas and Reynolds were named preseason All-MAAC and Monmouth was picked fourth in the preseason poll. Monmouth finished last season 12-8, including 12-6 in conference play.
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Following Wednesday's game, the Mountain Hawks remain on the road for a showdown at Merrimack on Friday. Opening tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
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Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
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For fans attending Tuesday's game, please note Monmouth's spectator protocols, which require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test administered by a doctor's office or a clinic within 72 hours of the event time. Home test kit results will not be accepted.
Â
Ironically enough, each of Lehigh's first three games of the season will be home openers for that respective team. It began with the two games last week, while Tuesday is Monmouth's first home game. Against NJIT, the Mountain Hawks opened a 10-5 advantage, but struggled from there. The Highlanders led 36-23 at the half, Lehigh pulled as close as six in the second half, but NJIT immediately responded with a 17-2 run to open a 64-43 lead with 4:52 remaining, proving too much for Lehigh to overcome. It was just Lehigh's fourth loss in its last 16 home openers.
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Fifth-year senior Marques Wilson led Lehigh in scoring for the second straight game, finishing with 15 points. Senior Jeameril Wilson added 13 on 4-of-7 shooting, along with five rebounds and two steals. Jeameril also drew eight of NJIT's 21 fouls on the evening. Ten other Mountain Hawks got on the scoreboard, but none had more than five points. Freshman Tyler Whitney-Sidney had five for his first-career points, while sophomore JT Tan saw his first collegiate action late in the first half and posted a point, rebound and steal.
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Junior Evan Taylor tied a career high with three steals. Late in the game, sophomore Jayshen Saigal posted his first collegiate points via a 3-pointer. The Mountain Hawks struggled offensively, shooting just 33.3 percent from the field (18-of-54), one game after shooting 47.4 percent at Rutgers. After 22 turnovers against the Scarlet Knights, Lehigh had 19 on Saturday. However, after 13 in the first half, the Mountain Hawks had just six in the second.
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Lehigh and Monmouth will square off for the fourth time in the last five seasons (the only season missed was last year during the COVID-19 altered season). This year's Monmouth team is a veteran group with its starting five through two games featuring four fifth-year players and a senior
Â
Lehigh leads the all-time series vs. Monmouth, 6-4. The teams first met on Dec. 30, 1987 - a 72-59 Lehigh victory. Nine of the 10 meetings have come since 2005. In each of the previous two meetings, the visitor spoiled the home team's home opener. Lehigh won at Monmouth in 2018 by an impressive 85-61 final before Monmouth won at Lehigh in 2019, 66-62.
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Monmouth stands 1-1 on the young season, falling at Charlotte in the opener (68-66) then winning at Towson (79-71). The Hawks' starting lineup thus far has featured four graduate students, and a senior. Walker Miller is leading the team in scoring (17.0) and rebounding (7.5) while George Papas isn't far behind with 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest. Shavar Reynolds Jr. is averaging 12.0 points per contest so far. Both Papas and Reynolds were named preseason All-MAAC and Monmouth was picked fourth in the preseason poll. Monmouth finished last season 12-8, including 12-6 in conference play.
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Following Wednesday's game, the Mountain Hawks remain on the road for a showdown at Merrimack on Friday. Opening tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
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Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
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| Date: | November 16, 2021 |
| Opponent: | Monmouth Hawks |
| Tip-off: | 7 p.m. |
| Arena (Capacity): | OceanFirst Bank Center (4,100) |
| Location: | West Long Branch, N.J. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 0-2, 0-0 PL |
| Monmouth's Record: | 1-1, 0-0 MAAC |
| Series: | Lehigh leads, 6-4 |
| TV: | ESPN3 |
| Radio: | Fox Sports 1230/1320 AM/94.7 FM |
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