Lehigh University Athletics
Saturday, January 1
Washington, D.C.
4 p.m.
Lehigh University
at
American
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Lehigh to Kick Off 2022 with Patriot League Opener at American on New Year’s Day
12/31/2021 2:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Following a busy two-day stretch following the Christmas holiday which featured games at Maryland and home vs. Eastern on back-to-back days, the Lehigh men's basketball team is set to begin the new year on Saturday at American. Opening tipoff for the New Year's Day showdown in our nation's capital is 4 p.m. on ESPN+. The Mountain Hawks enter Patriot League play on a winning note, topping Eastern Wednesday evening. The day prior, Lehigh put forth a strong first half at Maryland, trailing by just three after 20 minutes of play.
Against the Terrapins, Lehigh led for 7:01 of the first half and most of the beginning stages before Maryland responded. The Terps opened a 10-point lead in the final minutes, but the Mountain Hawks ended the half on a 10-3 run to pull within 37-34 at intermission. Maryland came out strong in the second half, but even so, a Nic Lynch 3-pointer got Lehigh back within 11 with less than eight minutes on the clock before the Terps responded for the 76-55 victory. Senior Jeameril Wilson led Lehigh with 17 points while junior Evan Taylor had 14 and Lynch added 12.
Less than 24 hours later, Lehigh returned to the floor at home. Eastern held a 30-28 halftime lead, in a half that saw neither team lead by more than one possession for the final 16:41 of the stanza. But the Mountain Hawks answered the call in the second half against an Eagles' team that entered having won eight in a row. Lehigh would open a double-figure lead before finishing off the 70-63 victory. First year Keith Higgins Jr. shattered his previous career highs in points and minutes - posting 18 and 36, respectively. His five rebounds were also a career high. Higgins became the eighth Mountain Hawk with double figures in a game this season. Taylor continued his strong play, scoring in double figures for a sixth straight game, as he tied a career high with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting.
Wilson again reached double figures, posting 12 on 5-of-7 shooting. He finished with a career-high five blocks, the most by any Lehigh player since Tim Kempton had six in the Patriot League Semifinals at Boston University on March 5, 2017. Wilson's five rejections were also the most for a Lehigh player at home since Kempton had five the game prior (March 2, 2017 in the quarterfinals vs. Colgate). Junior Jake Betlow tied career highs in minutes played (28) and assists (3). Also of note, the win marked the 235th of head coach Brett Reed's career, as he passed former Bucknell coach Pat Flannery for the second most overall victories in Patriot League history. The Mountain Hawks shut-out Eastern from the 3-point line, as the Eagles were 0-for-11 from deep. It marked the first Lehigh held an opponent without a made three since Dec. 21, 2013 vs. Quinnipiac (QU was 0-for-16).
Lehigh and American are set to square off in the league opener for the first time since 2010-11, which marked the seventh consecutive season the Mountain Hawks and Eagles opened Patriot League play.
The Mountain Hawks have impressed in their first Patriot League games, posting a 19-12 record in league openers. Only 13 of those 31 games have been at home, with Lehigh posting a 9-4 mark in the friendly confines and 10-8 away from home. Lehigh has won four of its last five league openers overall.
American enters Patriot League play 4-8, having won two of its last three (at Howard and vs. Saint Francis University before falling at George Mason). The Eagles' Dec. 28 game vs. Siena was cancelled. Senior Stacy Beckton Jr. leads the Eagles in scoring (13.3), followed closely by Johnny O'Neil (10.1) and Matt Rogers (10.0). Colin Smalls leads the Eagles with 35 assists through 12 games while O'Neil's 4.8 rebounding average are first on American. The Eagles began the season with wins over Marist and William & Mary before dropping the next seven, leading to a strong end to nonleague play.
In the last meeting between Lehigh and American, the Eagles won, 77-56, to snap Lehigh's 10-game winning streak in the series. Overall, the Mountain Hawks lead the all-time series, 29-27. In those 10 victories, Lehigh didn't trail in seven of them – and six came in Bethlehem and four in Washington, D.C. Lehigh and American first played in 1960-61, a 71-61 American victory.
Following Saturday's game, the Mountain Hawks return home to host Colgate on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Against the Terrapins, Lehigh led for 7:01 of the first half and most of the beginning stages before Maryland responded. The Terps opened a 10-point lead in the final minutes, but the Mountain Hawks ended the half on a 10-3 run to pull within 37-34 at intermission. Maryland came out strong in the second half, but even so, a Nic Lynch 3-pointer got Lehigh back within 11 with less than eight minutes on the clock before the Terps responded for the 76-55 victory. Senior Jeameril Wilson led Lehigh with 17 points while junior Evan Taylor had 14 and Lynch added 12.
Less than 24 hours later, Lehigh returned to the floor at home. Eastern held a 30-28 halftime lead, in a half that saw neither team lead by more than one possession for the final 16:41 of the stanza. But the Mountain Hawks answered the call in the second half against an Eagles' team that entered having won eight in a row. Lehigh would open a double-figure lead before finishing off the 70-63 victory. First year Keith Higgins Jr. shattered his previous career highs in points and minutes - posting 18 and 36, respectively. His five rebounds were also a career high. Higgins became the eighth Mountain Hawk with double figures in a game this season. Taylor continued his strong play, scoring in double figures for a sixth straight game, as he tied a career high with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting.
Wilson again reached double figures, posting 12 on 5-of-7 shooting. He finished with a career-high five blocks, the most by any Lehigh player since Tim Kempton had six in the Patriot League Semifinals at Boston University on March 5, 2017. Wilson's five rejections were also the most for a Lehigh player at home since Kempton had five the game prior (March 2, 2017 in the quarterfinals vs. Colgate). Junior Jake Betlow tied career highs in minutes played (28) and assists (3). Also of note, the win marked the 235th of head coach Brett Reed's career, as he passed former Bucknell coach Pat Flannery for the second most overall victories in Patriot League history. The Mountain Hawks shut-out Eastern from the 3-point line, as the Eagles were 0-for-11 from deep. It marked the first Lehigh held an opponent without a made three since Dec. 21, 2013 vs. Quinnipiac (QU was 0-for-16).
Lehigh and American are set to square off in the league opener for the first time since 2010-11, which marked the seventh consecutive season the Mountain Hawks and Eagles opened Patriot League play.
The Mountain Hawks have impressed in their first Patriot League games, posting a 19-12 record in league openers. Only 13 of those 31 games have been at home, with Lehigh posting a 9-4 mark in the friendly confines and 10-8 away from home. Lehigh has won four of its last five league openers overall.
American enters Patriot League play 4-8, having won two of its last three (at Howard and vs. Saint Francis University before falling at George Mason). The Eagles' Dec. 28 game vs. Siena was cancelled. Senior Stacy Beckton Jr. leads the Eagles in scoring (13.3), followed closely by Johnny O'Neil (10.1) and Matt Rogers (10.0). Colin Smalls leads the Eagles with 35 assists through 12 games while O'Neil's 4.8 rebounding average are first on American. The Eagles began the season with wins over Marist and William & Mary before dropping the next seven, leading to a strong end to nonleague play.
In the last meeting between Lehigh and American, the Eagles won, 77-56, to snap Lehigh's 10-game winning streak in the series. Overall, the Mountain Hawks lead the all-time series, 29-27. In those 10 victories, Lehigh didn't trail in seven of them – and six came in Bethlehem and four in Washington, D.C. Lehigh and American first played in 1960-61, a 71-61 American victory.
Following Saturday's game, the Mountain Hawks return home to host Colgate on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
| Date: | January 1, 2022 |
| Opponent: | American Eagles |
| Tip-off: | 4 p.m. |
| Arena (Capacity): | Bender Arena (4,500) |
| Location: | Washington, D.C. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 2-10, 0-0 Patriot League |
| American's Record: | 4-8, 0-0 Patriot League |
| Series: | Lehigh leads, 29-27 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
| Radio: | Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM & 1230 AM |
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