Monday, January 10
Bethlehem, Pa.
7 p.m.
Lehigh University
5-11,3-1Patriot
77
vs
69
Holy Cross
3-13,1-3Patriot
1
2
F
Holy Cross
26
43
69
Lehigh
35
42
77
Photo by: Justin Lafleur
Mountain Hawks Cruise Past Holy Cross, 77-69, for Fourth Win in Last Five Games
1/10/2022 10:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's basketball team improved to 3-1 in Patriot League play, leading for the game's final 30:30, on its way to a 77-69 win over Holy Cross inside Stabler Arena Monday night. A total team effort saw fifth year Marques Wilson lead the offense with 17 points, while junior Evan Taylor recorded 15 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth-career double-double and first this season.
Â
"I thought Marques' offensive spark and efficiency in the first half was great for us," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "It helps relieve some of the pressure for the other guys having to create and ball handle all the time. You've got somebody who has some experience and can fit into that role. He's getting his feet back underneath him. Every practice, you see him grow a little bit. There's a buildup that takes place [after missing just over a month]."
Â
Wilson impressed in his second game since returning to the lineup, shooting 5-of-11 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range. Twelve of his 17 points came in the first half, to help Lehigh open a 35-26 halftime advantage. Meanwhile, Taylor scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half, providing a big offensive spark. Sophomore Dominic Parolin scored 10 second-half points for a second straight game, also grabbing six second-half boards to finish with 12 points and nine rebounds – along with a game-high plus/minus of +20. First year Keith Higgins Jr. was the fourth Mountain Hawk in double figures, finishing with 12 on 4-of-8 shooting; it marked his fifth straight game with double-figure points.
Â
Both teams had slow offensive starts, with Holy Cross leading 4-2 at the first media timeout. The Crusaders opened an 8-2 advantage, but the Mountain Hawks answered with seven straight, capped off by a Marques Wilson driving layup, to put Lehigh ahead, 9-8 with 11:41 left in the first half.
Â
Just over a minute later, Parolin knocked down two free throws to help Lehigh retake an 11-10 lead, an advantage the Mountain Hawks wouldn't relinquish. Those free throws started a 15-10 run, which included 3-pointers from Marques and Jeameril Wilson on back-to-back possessions, to put Lehigh ahead 17-10 and force a Crusaders timeout.
Â
Lehigh went on to open its largest lead of the first, 33-18, with 2:42 on the clock. Holy Cross responded with an 8-2 run to end the half to pull within 35-26 after 20 minutes of play.
Â
"I thought Evan was terrific tonight," said Reed. "Just the way he rebounded the basketball, and I thought his offensive burst early in the second half – being able to still keep his mindset and mentality despite having to sit for a little bit with some foul difficultly – was really important for us. Evan gave us a spark as far as offense in the beginning of the second half, and then Dom really gave us a big shot in the arm with some of his energy plays. He made a jump shot and ended up getting a tip out to get us an extra possession. All those were big plays."
Â
For the game, Lehigh shot 46.3 percent from the field (25-of-54), including 44.4 percent from 3-point range (8-of-18). Holy Cross finished at 33.8 percent (23-of-68) and 22.2 percent from behind the arc (4-of-18). The Mountain Hawks held a 44-35 edge in rebounds. Lehigh had just four second-half turnovers to finish with 11 for the game, while Holy Cross turned the ball over just five times.
Â
Lehigh Men's Basketball held Holy Cross to under 45 percent shooting! Fans in attendance received a free appetizer with the purchase of two entrees courtesy of The Brick in Bethlehem!
Â
The Mountain Hawks will now head to Bucknell on Thursday to face the Bison. Opening tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Â
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
ÂGallery: (1-10-2022) Men's Basketball vs. Holy Cross, 1/10/22
Â
"I thought Marques' offensive spark and efficiency in the first half was great for us," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "It helps relieve some of the pressure for the other guys having to create and ball handle all the time. You've got somebody who has some experience and can fit into that role. He's getting his feet back underneath him. Every practice, you see him grow a little bit. There's a buildup that takes place [after missing just over a month]."
Â
Wilson impressed in his second game since returning to the lineup, shooting 5-of-11 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range. Twelve of his 17 points came in the first half, to help Lehigh open a 35-26 halftime advantage. Meanwhile, Taylor scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half, providing a big offensive spark. Sophomore Dominic Parolin scored 10 second-half points for a second straight game, also grabbing six second-half boards to finish with 12 points and nine rebounds – along with a game-high plus/minus of +20. First year Keith Higgins Jr. was the fourth Mountain Hawk in double figures, finishing with 12 on 4-of-8 shooting; it marked his fifth straight game with double-figure points.
Preseason All-Patriot League honoree Gerrale Gates led Holy Cross with 21 points and nine rebounds.🎥 Lehigh 77, Holy Cross 69 pic.twitter.com/39tcuGUbg3
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) January 11, 2022
Â
Both teams had slow offensive starts, with Holy Cross leading 4-2 at the first media timeout. The Crusaders opened an 8-2 advantage, but the Mountain Hawks answered with seven straight, capped off by a Marques Wilson driving layup, to put Lehigh ahead, 9-8 with 11:41 left in the first half.
Â
Just over a minute later, Parolin knocked down two free throws to help Lehigh retake an 11-10 lead, an advantage the Mountain Hawks wouldn't relinquish. Those free throws started a 15-10 run, which included 3-pointers from Marques and Jeameril Wilson on back-to-back possessions, to put Lehigh ahead 17-10 and force a Crusaders timeout.
The Mountain Hawks continued the run after the timeout, capped off by a Taylor offensive rebound and put back to put Lehigh ahead, 24-10 with 4:47 left in the first half. In the end, the Mountain Hawks held the Crusaders scoreless for a stretch of 6:20, holding Holy Cross to 0-for-8 from the floor.Make that an 8-0 Lehigh run. Second straight trey for the Mountain Hawks, this one from @jeameril_wilson!
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) January 11, 2022
Watch: https://t.co/yvFxvw8TTt#GoLehigh | #AllIn pic.twitter.com/9Vj2yhQGh4
Â
Lehigh went on to open its largest lead of the first, 33-18, with 2:42 on the clock. Holy Cross responded with an 8-2 run to end the half to pull within 35-26 after 20 minutes of play.
Taylor knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the first 4:01 of the second half to lead the offense. The second one turned a six-point lead back into a nine-point, 44-35, advantage with 15:59 remaining.🎯 @_M_W_II
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) January 11, 2022
Watch: https://t.co/yvFxvw9rJ1#GoLehigh | #AllIn pic.twitter.com/g73pNunmzs
Over the ensuing minutes, Lehigh's lead hovered between nine and 13 until a 5-0 surge turned a 57-46 lead into a 62-46 advantage with 7:45 remaining. Four of the points came from Parolin, the first a jumper assisted by first year Tyler Whitney-Sidney, while the second was an offensive rebound and put back. Whitney-Sidney enjoyed another strong game, posting career highs in points (9) and rebounds (5), along with two assists.ET IS FEELING IT. 🔥
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) January 11, 2022
Watch: https://t.co/yvFxvw8TTt pic.twitter.com/qoEvuCdAS2
Holy Cross tried to claw back down the stretch, but the Mountain Hawks' lead never got less than eight, which proved to be the final margin.‼ ‼ ‼
— Lehigh M. Basketball (@LehighMBB) January 11, 2022
You're gonna wanna see this. 👀 Tyler Whitney-Sidney goes around one defender, and another and takes it himself to the cup. #PLTop3
Watch: https://t.co/yvFxvw8TTt pic.twitter.com/nO4aubeloP
Â
"I thought Evan was terrific tonight," said Reed. "Just the way he rebounded the basketball, and I thought his offensive burst early in the second half – being able to still keep his mindset and mentality despite having to sit for a little bit with some foul difficultly – was really important for us. Evan gave us a spark as far as offense in the beginning of the second half, and then Dom really gave us a big shot in the arm with some of his energy plays. He made a jump shot and ended up getting a tip out to get us an extra possession. All those were big plays."
Â
For the game, Lehigh shot 46.3 percent from the field (25-of-54), including 44.4 percent from 3-point range (8-of-18). Holy Cross finished at 33.8 percent (23-of-68) and 22.2 percent from behind the arc (4-of-18). The Mountain Hawks held a 44-35 edge in rebounds. Lehigh had just four second-half turnovers to finish with 11 for the game, while Holy Cross turned the ball over just five times.
Â
Lehigh Men's Basketball held Holy Cross to under 45 percent shooting! Fans in attendance received a free appetizer with the purchase of two entrees courtesy of The Brick in Bethlehem!
Â
The Mountain Hawks will now head to Bucknell on Thursday to face the Bison. Opening tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Â
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Â
Team Stats
HolyCr
Lehigh
FG%
.338
.463
3FG%
.222
.444
FT%
.731
.731
RB
35
44
TO
5
11
STL
5
1
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF/C
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballSeason Preview: Men's Basketball
Thursday, October 31
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Basketball
Wednesday, October 30
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Basketball
Wednesday, February 07
Men's Basketball vs SUNY Oneonta
Thursday, November 16
