Saturday, February 20
Bethlehem, Pa.
1 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Loyola
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Lehigh Returns to the Court This Weekend vs. Loyola
2/19/2021 12:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Following a two-week pause, the Lehigh men's basketball team will hit the floor for the first time in 20 days when it faces Loyola for a pair of games this weekend. The Mountain Hawks will host the Greyhounds on Saturday at 1 p.m. before traveling to Baltimore to face Loyola on Sunday at 6 p.m., both on ESPN+ and Fox Sports 1230/1320/94.7 in the Lehigh Valley. Lehigh was last in action on Jan. 30 and 31 against Bucknell, dropping a pair of tough contests.
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The Mountain Hawks will look to bounce back from the Bucknell weekend, which started well. A competitive first half saw Lehigh and Bucknell tied at the half on Jan. 30, but the Bison pulled away in the second. Bucknell took an 11-point halftime lead Sunday and wouldn't look back. Sophomore Evan Taylor has been a bright spot, posting his third double-double in the last four games last time out at Bucknell. He's averaging 12.8 points and 9.8 rebounds in that span. Taylor now leads the Mountain Hawks in rebounding (6.5).Â
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On Saturday against the Bison, Lehigh grabbed 14 offensive rebounds which were its most against a Division I opponent since Nov. 16, 2018 vs. Princeton (16) and most in any game since the following November against Misericordia (also 16). Lehigh went on to tally 11 offensive rebounds Sunday, its third straight game in double figures (after one its first seven games). Freshman Ben Li enjoyed his strongest game to date, tallying career highs in points (8) and rebounds). Classmate Dominic Parolin also grabbed a career high in boards with eight.
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This weekend's series could prove critical in both Lehigh and Loyola's chances of qualifying for the Patriot League Tournament. At 3-7 overall and 1-5 in the Central mini-conference, the Mountain Hawks are currently third in the division, but eighth in the overall standings. The seventh and eighth place seeds are determined by overall record and Lehigh is ahead of Loyola (2-7) and Holy Cross (3-10). The Mountain Hawks own the tiebreaker against the Crusaders after sweeping the weekend. Lehigh is alive to move up within its division, but it would take Lafayette falling to Bucknell twice this weekend (and the Mountain Hawks sweeping the Leopards next weekend). Lehigh's final two games of the regular season are against the Leopards, which are makeup games for what were postponed earlier this month.
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With all the postponements around the Patriot League, the league came out with a revised schedule. Lehigh is not scheduled for 14 regular-season games (compared to 16 originally) and will not face Colgate. This weekend (Feb. 20 and 21) was originally supposed to be a pair against the Raiders.
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Loyola had a tough start to the season, beginning 0-5 with the first four defeats coming by two points or fewer. The Greyhounds have gone 2-2 since, all against Lafayette and those defeats came by four and three (in triple overtime). Santi Aldama leads the team in scoring (20.9) and rebounding (10.3). He's the two-time reigning Patriot League Player of the Week, which included a 30-point, 22-rebound effort last Saturday. Jaylin Andrews is second on the team in scoring (12.3) while Isaiah Hart is averaging 10.2. The Greyhounds have been outscored by 22 in the first half this season before outscoring opponents by 27 in the second half.
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Last season, Lehigh swept Loyola in the regular season and topped the Greyhounds in the Patriot League Tournament First Round, 78-75. Overall, the Mountain Hawks have won five of their last six vs. Loyola and now lead the all-time series, 13-11. Last year, Loyola was the only team Lehigh swept in the regular season. The Mountain Hawks have won three straight at home vs. the Greyhounds to snap a two-game losing streak in Stabler prior to that. Before meeting as Patriot League opponents, the teams previously played on Nov. 26, 1988, an 86-72 Lehigh victory. The sides first met in 1912-13, a 41-19 Lehigh victory. Loyola's first win was in 1915-16 by a 35-15 final.
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Following this weekend, the Mountain Hawks wrap up the regular season with a pair against Lafayette, traveling to Easton on Saturday (4 p.m.) and hosting the Leopards on Sunday (6 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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The Mountain Hawks will look to bounce back from the Bucknell weekend, which started well. A competitive first half saw Lehigh and Bucknell tied at the half on Jan. 30, but the Bison pulled away in the second. Bucknell took an 11-point halftime lead Sunday and wouldn't look back. Sophomore Evan Taylor has been a bright spot, posting his third double-double in the last four games last time out at Bucknell. He's averaging 12.8 points and 9.8 rebounds in that span. Taylor now leads the Mountain Hawks in rebounding (6.5).Â
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On Saturday against the Bison, Lehigh grabbed 14 offensive rebounds which were its most against a Division I opponent since Nov. 16, 2018 vs. Princeton (16) and most in any game since the following November against Misericordia (also 16). Lehigh went on to tally 11 offensive rebounds Sunday, its third straight game in double figures (after one its first seven games). Freshman Ben Li enjoyed his strongest game to date, tallying career highs in points (8) and rebounds). Classmate Dominic Parolin also grabbed a career high in boards with eight.
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This weekend's series could prove critical in both Lehigh and Loyola's chances of qualifying for the Patriot League Tournament. At 3-7 overall and 1-5 in the Central mini-conference, the Mountain Hawks are currently third in the division, but eighth in the overall standings. The seventh and eighth place seeds are determined by overall record and Lehigh is ahead of Loyola (2-7) and Holy Cross (3-10). The Mountain Hawks own the tiebreaker against the Crusaders after sweeping the weekend. Lehigh is alive to move up within its division, but it would take Lafayette falling to Bucknell twice this weekend (and the Mountain Hawks sweeping the Leopards next weekend). Lehigh's final two games of the regular season are against the Leopards, which are makeup games for what were postponed earlier this month.
Â
With all the postponements around the Patriot League, the league came out with a revised schedule. Lehigh is not scheduled for 14 regular-season games (compared to 16 originally) and will not face Colgate. This weekend (Feb. 20 and 21) was originally supposed to be a pair against the Raiders.
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Loyola had a tough start to the season, beginning 0-5 with the first four defeats coming by two points or fewer. The Greyhounds have gone 2-2 since, all against Lafayette and those defeats came by four and three (in triple overtime). Santi Aldama leads the team in scoring (20.9) and rebounding (10.3). He's the two-time reigning Patriot League Player of the Week, which included a 30-point, 22-rebound effort last Saturday. Jaylin Andrews is second on the team in scoring (12.3) while Isaiah Hart is averaging 10.2. The Greyhounds have been outscored by 22 in the first half this season before outscoring opponents by 27 in the second half.
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Last season, Lehigh swept Loyola in the regular season and topped the Greyhounds in the Patriot League Tournament First Round, 78-75. Overall, the Mountain Hawks have won five of their last six vs. Loyola and now lead the all-time series, 13-11. Last year, Loyola was the only team Lehigh swept in the regular season. The Mountain Hawks have won three straight at home vs. the Greyhounds to snap a two-game losing streak in Stabler prior to that. Before meeting as Patriot League opponents, the teams previously played on Nov. 26, 1988, an 86-72 Lehigh victory. The sides first met in 1912-13, a 41-19 Lehigh victory. Loyola's first win was in 1915-16 by a 35-15 final.
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Following this weekend, the Mountain Hawks wrap up the regular season with a pair against Lafayette, traveling to Easton on Saturday (4 p.m.) and hosting the Leopards on Sunday (6 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: | February 20 & 21, 2021 |
| Opponent: | Loyola Greyhounds |
| Tip-off: | 1 p.m. (2/20) 6 p.m. (2/21) |
| Arena: | Stabler Arena (2/20) Reitz Arena (2/21) |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. (2/20) Baltimore, Md. (2/21) |
| Lehigh's Record: | 3-7 PL, 1-5 Central |
| Loyola's Record: | 2-7 PL, 0-3 South |
| Series: | Lehigh leads, 13-11 |
| TV: | ESPN+ (Both Days) |
| Radio: | Fox Sports 1230/1320 AM/94.7 FM (Both Days) |
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