Tuesday, December 21
Bethlehem, Pa.
7 p.m.
Lehigh University
1-9,0-0Patriot
52
vs
68
UAlbany
4-8,0-0America East
1
2
F
Albany (NY)
36
32
68
Lehigh
12
40
52
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Lehigh Can’t Overcome Tough First Half, Falls to UAlbany 68-52
12/21/2021 10:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Trailing 36-12 at the half, the Lehigh men's basketball team shaved 10 points off the deficit in just the first 8:10 of the second, but couldn't get any closer than 14 as the Mountain Hawks fell to UAlbany, 68-52 on Tuesday evening in Stabler Arena. Senior Jeameril Wilson led the Mountain Hawks with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, 11 points coming after halftime. First year Keith Higgins Jr. played all but 40 seconds in the second half, posting seven points and four assists over the final 20 minutes (career-high seven points, career-high five assists and zero turnovers for the game).
As a team, the Mountain Hawks had just three second-half turnovers following 11 in the first half.
"It was unfortunate we dug ourselves such a hole," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "Their athleticism bothered us, their pressure bothered us. It ended up resulting in us playing a little faster than we needed to. It resulted in turnovers. Some of our finishes weren't strong finishes and strong shots, and then when we did have some open looks, we didn't convert.
"Fortunately for us, our kids responded in the second half," Reed continued. "I thought they played a much better brand of basketball. And if it weren't for us being ultra-aggressive with our full-court press, we probably would have cut down on some of their points and their conversions, primarily because we fouled them with our aggressiveness."
Along with Wilson's 13 points, classmate Nic Lynch and junior Evan Taylor each scored 10. De'Vondre Perry led UAlbany with a game-high 18 points.
The Great Danes opened early leads of 9-2 and 15-4. A Fenton 3-pointer pulled Lehigh within eight at 15-7, but that's as close as the Mountain Hawks would come the rest of the way. UAlbany responded with a 16-1 run to open a 31-8 advantage following a Perry 3-pointer with 4:01 remaining in the first half. Luke Fizulich capped off the half with a trey as the time expired to give the Great Danes a 36-12 lead heading into the locker room.
Lehigh quickly began the second half with five straight points and nine of the first 11, as a Dominic Parolin layup following an impressive succession of passes pulled the Mountain Hawks within 38-21 with 16:44 still remaining.
"He understands what's going on out there, and tonight he showed it," Reed continued. "The five assists to no turnovers playing a little bit out of position was a great sign for us and hopefully something we can build on."
However, after Higgins Jr.'s 3-pointer, the Great Danes immediately responded, erasing much doubt by scoring 10 straight points to take a 52-28 lead.
Lehigh continued to battle down the stretch, pulling within 16 at the final horn as junior Jakob Alamudun knocked down a 3-pointer, from first year Burke Chebuhar, to pull the Mountain Hawks within 68-52 at the final horn.
For the game, the Mountain Hawks shot 38.8 percent from the field (19-of-49), including 25.0 percent from 3-point range (5-of-20). UAlbany shot 43.6 percent (24-of-55) and 45.5 percent from behind the arc (5-of-11). The Great Danes held a 38-28 edge in rebounds.
Lehigh will return home next Wednesday to host Eastern University at 7 p.m. The Mountain Hawks then open Patriot League play on New Year's Day at American.
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
As a team, the Mountain Hawks had just three second-half turnovers following 11 in the first half.
"It was unfortunate we dug ourselves such a hole," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "Their athleticism bothered us, their pressure bothered us. It ended up resulting in us playing a little faster than we needed to. It resulted in turnovers. Some of our finishes weren't strong finishes and strong shots, and then when we did have some open looks, we didn't convert.
"Fortunately for us, our kids responded in the second half," Reed continued. "I thought they played a much better brand of basketball. And if it weren't for us being ultra-aggressive with our full-court press, we probably would have cut down on some of their points and their conversions, primarily because we fouled them with our aggressiveness."
Tuesday marked Lehigh's first game in 17 days, due to the break for final exams (and Saturday's game at Syracuse being postponed).Knocked off some rust in the first half, played better in the second heading into the holiday break 📹 pic.twitter.com/wDrvjW42nr
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) December 22, 2021
Along with Wilson's 13 points, classmate Nic Lynch and junior Evan Taylor each scored 10. De'Vondre Perry led UAlbany with a game-high 18 points.
The Great Danes opened early leads of 9-2 and 15-4. A Fenton 3-pointer pulled Lehigh within eight at 15-7, but that's as close as the Mountain Hawks would come the rest of the way. UAlbany responded with a 16-1 run to open a 31-8 advantage following a Perry 3-pointer with 4:01 remaining in the first half. Luke Fizulich capped off the half with a trey as the time expired to give the Great Danes a 36-12 lead heading into the locker room.
Lehigh quickly began the second half with five straight points and nine of the first 11, as a Dominic Parolin layup following an impressive succession of passes pulled the Mountain Hawks within 38-21 with 16:44 still remaining.
Just over two minutes later, an emphatic Taylor dunk off a backdoor feed from Higgins Jr. got Lehigh within 40-25 with 14:35 on the clock.Mountain Hawks off to a strong start to begin the half, scoring nine of the first 11 points to pull within 38-21 following this nifty sequence of passes.
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) December 22, 2021
Watch on ESPN+ https://t.co/kxthHNLJUI pic.twitter.com/wTbKTNkrsB
Not long after, Higgins Jr. continued to make his presence felt, knocking down a 3-pointer to get Lehigh within 42-28 with 11:50 to go.Back door for the ET SLAM.
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) December 22, 2021
Watch on ESPN+ https://t.co/kxthHNLJUI pic.twitter.com/JpBMFooCgy
"It was really impressive for Keith to step into that [point guard] role and help us the way he did," said Reed. "With what we've gone through with the loss of Jalin Sinclair [for the season] and then Marques Wilson [currently out], and inconsistency we've gotten [at the point guard position], we inserted Keith into a position he hadn't really played. He's the son of a coach. He generally takes care of the basketball. He's got a pretty good feel and IQ. And Keith has been playing really, really hard.The Mountain Hawks are RIGHT back in this one. Plenty of time after this Keith Higgins Jr. 3-pointer.
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) December 22, 2021
Watch on ESPN+ https://t.co/kxthHNLJUI pic.twitter.com/Q256r2WYgF
"He understands what's going on out there, and tonight he showed it," Reed continued. "The five assists to no turnovers playing a little bit out of position was a great sign for us and hopefully something we can build on."
However, after Higgins Jr.'s 3-pointer, the Great Danes immediately responded, erasing much doubt by scoring 10 straight points to take a 52-28 lead.
Lehigh continued to battle down the stretch, pulling within 16 at the final horn as junior Jakob Alamudun knocked down a 3-pointer, from first year Burke Chebuhar, to pull the Mountain Hawks within 68-52 at the final horn.
For the game, the Mountain Hawks shot 38.8 percent from the field (19-of-49), including 25.0 percent from 3-point range (5-of-20). UAlbany shot 43.6 percent (24-of-55) and 45.5 percent from behind the arc (5-of-11). The Great Danes held a 38-28 edge in rebounds.
Lehigh will return home next Wednesday to host Eastern University at 7 p.m. The Mountain Hawks then open Patriot League play on New Year's Day at American.
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Team Stats
ANY
Lehigh
FG%
.436
.388
3FG%
.455
.250
FT%
.682
.692
RB
38
28
TO
10
14
STL
7
1
Game Leaders
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F/C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
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