Sunday, February 28
Bethlehem, Pa.
6 p.m.
Lehigh University
4-10,4-10Patriot
70
vs
71
Lafayette
9-5,9-5Patriot
1
2
F
Lafayette
41
30
71
Lehigh
35
35
70
Lehigh Loses Hard-Fought Battle to Lafayette in Regular-Season Finale, 71-70
2/28/2021 10:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's basketball team fought back from a 12-point first-half deficit to take multiple second-half leads, but a back-and-forth final few minutes saw Lafayette's Justin Jaworski bank in a shot with 19 seconds remaining. That proved to be the difference in a 71-70 Leopards' win. Lehigh finishes the regular 4-10, tied for ninth in the Patriot League standings; the Mountain Hawks will enter the Patriot League Tournament as the No. 10 seed and play at seventh-seeded Boston University in the first round on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
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"I thought our kids fought hard," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "I thought they played with great energy. They even did a better job in getting Lafayette to play more in the half court versus the open floor. Our kids' resiliency on that was impressive. Unfortunately, we had a number of plays we just didn't convert. In many respects, a lot of those looks were good looks for us. Our kids put themselves in position to have it come down to a single possession because they stayed after it. And I'm proud of them for that."
Freshman Ben Li led the offense with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Sophomore Evan Taylor finished with 12 points, all 3-pointers, shooting 4-of-5 from distance. On his Senior Night, Marques Wilson posted 11 points, six assists and five rebounds.
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"Marques has stuck with it through ups and downs," said Reed. "He's modeled learning and growing, and I think that's a great testament to his character. It hasn't always been the smoothest or straightest journey, but he's had some stick-to-itiveness and that has allowed him to become a really strong contributor for us.
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"Today, there were so many times Marques created opportunities for his teammates," Reed continued. "He did it with a great deal of unselfishness and played with a great deal of spirit and I think that's a testament to the way in which he's competitive, but also open to learn and grow and work with his teammates."
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Neither offense got rolling until the middle of the first half. There were only 19 combined points in the game's first nine minutes, with the Mountain Hawks ahead 10-9 following a Jeameril Wilson basket. But the ensuing five minutes saw 35 combined points. Lafayette opened a seven-point lead before a Li 3-pointer pulled Lehigh within 29-25 with 5:51 left in the first half.
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The Leopards extended their lead to 12 at 41-29, but Taylor knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute of the first half to quickly get Lehigh back within 41-35 after 20 minutes of play.
A Marques Wilson basket just 22 seconds into the second made it an 8-0 Lehigh run, but Lafayette answered to go back up 11 at 50-39. From there, the Mountain Hawks slowly chipped away, pulling within three, 54-51, following a Marques Wilson jumper with 12:44 on the clock.
Trailing 61-54 a few minutes later, Lehigh went on an 8-0 run over more than five minutes, as a Taylor 3-pointer gave the Mountain Hawks the lead back, 62-61, with 5:39 remaining.
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The teams traded leads down the stretch. Marques Wilson hit a 3-pointer with 2:10 remaining to put Lehigh on top 70-69, but that proved to be the Mountain Hawks' final points of the game. Despite being held to just nine points all game, Jaworski hit a big shot with 19 seconds remaining to go ahead, 71-70. After a pair of timeouts, Marques Wilson had a good look at a pull-up jumper, but it was off the mark. Freshman Dominic Parolin and Taylor each got off desperation attempts before the buzzer sounded, but neither would go down.
The Mountain Hawks shot 40.6 percent from the field (28-of-69), including 45.5 percent from 3-point range (10-of-22). Lafayette finished at 44.6 percent (25-of-56) and 44.0 percent from behind the arc (11-of-25). Lehigh held a 40-34 edge in rebounds, including 12 offensive boards.
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The Mountain Hawks now turn their attention to Boston University on Wednesday evening. Wednesday's winner will play at No. 2 Colgate in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
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"I see progress with this team and it's hard for me to say that as a competitor, but I know what the kids are bringing to the table," said Reed. "I'm seeing more consistency of sharing the ball and working together. I'm seeing greater focus and energy on defense. We just need a couple breaks to go our way. And if that happens, we could start developing some pretty solid momentum in the postseason. Because irrespective of our records or who we played against, everyone has an opportunity for this championship and I think we're on an upward ascent as opposed to a downward descent, despite the record."
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Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
ÂGallery: (2-28-2021) Men's Basketball vs. Lafayette, 2/28/21
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"I thought our kids fought hard," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "I thought they played with great energy. They even did a better job in getting Lafayette to play more in the half court versus the open floor. Our kids' resiliency on that was impressive. Unfortunately, we had a number of plays we just didn't convert. In many respects, a lot of those looks were good looks for us. Our kids put themselves in position to have it come down to a single possession because they stayed after it. And I'm proud of them for that."
ÂOnto the Patriot League Tournament. Highlights from a hard-fought battle tonight against Lafayette that came down to the final possession. pic.twitter.com/zqjIhtq2xz
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) March 1, 2021
Freshman Ben Li led the offense with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Sophomore Evan Taylor finished with 12 points, all 3-pointers, shooting 4-of-5 from distance. On his Senior Night, Marques Wilson posted 11 points, six assists and five rebounds.
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"Marques has stuck with it through ups and downs," said Reed. "He's modeled learning and growing, and I think that's a great testament to his character. It hasn't always been the smoothest or straightest journey, but he's had some stick-to-itiveness and that has allowed him to become a really strong contributor for us.
Â
"Today, there were so many times Marques created opportunities for his teammates," Reed continued. "He did it with a great deal of unselfishness and played with a great deal of spirit and I think that's a testament to the way in which he's competitive, but also open to learn and grow and work with his teammates."
Â
Neither offense got rolling until the middle of the first half. There were only 19 combined points in the game's first nine minutes, with the Mountain Hawks ahead 10-9 following a Jeameril Wilson basket. But the ensuing five minutes saw 35 combined points. Lafayette opened a seven-point lead before a Li 3-pointer pulled Lehigh within 29-25 with 5:51 left in the first half.
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The Leopards extended their lead to 12 at 41-29, but Taylor knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute of the first half to quickly get Lehigh back within 41-35 after 20 minutes of play.
ÂThe second of consecutive 3-pointers from ET. We've got a ballgame at the half.
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) February 28, 2021
Watch on ESPN+ https://t.co/4xP1Cx06Aq pic.twitter.com/hTGV27sc0G
A Marques Wilson basket just 22 seconds into the second made it an 8-0 Lehigh run, but Lafayette answered to go back up 11 at 50-39. From there, the Mountain Hawks slowly chipped away, pulling within three, 54-51, following a Marques Wilson jumper with 12:44 on the clock.
ÂThe senior gets the Mountain Hawks within three!
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) March 1, 2021
Watch on ESPN+ https://t.co/4xP1Cx06Aq pic.twitter.com/9fV02RFMWL
Trailing 61-54 a few minutes later, Lehigh went on an 8-0 run over more than five minutes, as a Taylor 3-pointer gave the Mountain Hawks the lead back, 62-61, with 5:39 remaining.
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The teams traded leads down the stretch. Marques Wilson hit a 3-pointer with 2:10 remaining to put Lehigh on top 70-69, but that proved to be the Mountain Hawks' final points of the game. Despite being held to just nine points all game, Jaworski hit a big shot with 19 seconds remaining to go ahead, 71-70. After a pair of timeouts, Marques Wilson had a good look at a pull-up jumper, but it was off the mark. Freshman Dominic Parolin and Taylor each got off desperation attempts before the buzzer sounded, but neither would go down.
Â.@benli__ too tough. Another strong game for the freshman. We trade leads, with Lafayette currently on top 69-67 at our final media timeout.
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) March 1, 2021
Watch the ending on ESPN+ https://t.co/4xP1Cx06Aq pic.twitter.com/mwYzo9ExQw
The Mountain Hawks shot 40.6 percent from the field (28-of-69), including 45.5 percent from 3-point range (10-of-22). Lafayette finished at 44.6 percent (25-of-56) and 44.0 percent from behind the arc (11-of-25). Lehigh held a 40-34 edge in rebounds, including 12 offensive boards.
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The Mountain Hawks now turn their attention to Boston University on Wednesday evening. Wednesday's winner will play at No. 2 Colgate in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
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"I see progress with this team and it's hard for me to say that as a competitor, but I know what the kids are bringing to the table," said Reed. "I'm seeing more consistency of sharing the ball and working together. I'm seeing greater focus and energy on defense. We just need a couple breaks to go our way. And if that happens, we could start developing some pretty solid momentum in the postseason. Because irrespective of our records or who we played against, everyone has an opportunity for this championship and I think we're on an upward ascent as opposed to a downward descent, despite the record."
Â
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
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Team Stats
Laf
Lehigh
FG%
.446
.406
3FG%
.440
.455
FT%
1.000
.571
RB
34
40
TO
9
7
STL
3
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F/C
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