Lehigh Opens Season at Rutgers Wednesday Night

Wednesday, November 10

Piscataway, N.J.

7 p.m.

Lehigh University

Rutgers

Lehigh Opens Season at Rutgers Wednesday Night

11/9/2021 12:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's basketball team is ready to hit the floor for the first time on Wednesday, as the Mountain Hawks travel to nearby Rutgers to face the Scarlet Knights. Opening tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on BTN+. Lehigh features a strong mix of returning players, coupled with talented freshmen, who look to get the Mountain Hawks back into Patriot League Championship contention. Leading the way is fifth-year senior Marques Wilson, who took advantage of the extra year of eligibility (due to the COVID-19 season) to return to Lehigh for another go-around.

Wilson is the Mountain Hawks' top statistical returner. Last season, he was named third team All-Patriot League and second team All-District, leading Lehigh and finishing 10th in the Patriot League in scoring (15.3 points per game) and posting a team-leading 2.8 assists per contest (good for seventh in the league). Wilson was also voted preseason All-League heading into this season.

Also among Lehigh's returnees are seniors Jeameril Wilson and Nic Lynch, and juniors Evan Taylor, Reed Fenton, Jakob Alamudun and Jake Betlow, who have all made significant contributions over the course of their careers. The 2021-22 Mountain Hawks appear to be very deep, with a large number of players who have played big minutes, and started games, in their collegiate careers.

The Mountain Hawks will be playing their first "traditional" season opener since a home game vs. Monmouth on Nov. 5, 2019 - an 66-62 defeat. Last season, Lehigh opened on Jan. 2 vs. rival Lafayette and pulled out a thrilling 90-89 overtime victory. The Mountain Hawks will be facing Rutgers for the first time since 2008, which Lehigh won (led by current head coach Brett Reed). Lehigh's last power conference opponent was Dec. 21, 2019 at No. 9 Auburn, a 74-51 defeat. The Mountain Hawks actually led that game, 20-13, more than midway through the first half before the Tigers responded. Lehigh wouldn't go away quietly as after trailing 13, the Mountain Hawks got back within seven at 48-41 with 7:56 left in the contest.

In his career, Reed owns wins over four power conferences (Big East, ACC, SEC and Pac-12), but is looking for his first over the Big Ten.

We caught up with head coach @BrettReed before practice today to preview Wednesday's season opener at Rutgers! pic.twitter.com/oiGfDn8s7E
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) November 9, 2021

Last season, Rutgers finished 16-12 and 10-10 in the Big Ten to earn an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament – its first tournament appearance since 1991. The 10th-seeded Scarlet Knights defeated seventh-seeded Clemson in the Round of 64, 60-56, before falling to No. 2 seed Houston in a close matchup, 63-60. Overall, Rutgers returns a lot of talent, but lost some significant contributors as well. Its top scorer returns in Ron Harper Jr., who averaged 14.9 points (to go with 5.9 rebounds). The team's No. 3 scorer from last season, Geo Baker, also returns after averaging 10.4 points per game. Among the biggest losses include second-leading scorer Jacob Young (who averaged 14.1 points) and top rebounder and rim protector Myles Johnson (who averaged a team-leading 8.5 rebounds and posted a team-high 68 blocks).

Rutgers leads the all-time series with Lehigh, 68-36, but the Mountain Hawks did win the last meeting - on Nov. 26, 2008 by a 76-71 final. That came in Brett Reed's second season as Lehigh head coach. That snapped an 18-game Lehigh losing streak in the series, with its previous victory coming in 1967. The long-time rivals met often in the early 1900s, including the first-ever meeting on Feb. 9, 1907, an 88-23 Lehigh win.

Following Wednesday's game, the Mountain Hawks return home for their home opener, as Lehigh will host NJIT on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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Date:	November 10, 2021
Opponent:	Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Tip-off:	7 p.m.
Arena (Capacity):	Jersey Mike's Arena (8,000)
Location:	Piscataway, N.J.
Lehigh's Record:	0-0, 0-0 PL
Rutgers' Record:	0-0, 0-0 Big Ten
Series:	Rutgers leads, 68-36
TV:	BTN+
Radio:	Fox Sports 1230/1320 AM/94.7 FM