Sunday, January 16
Bethlehem, Pa.
6 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Loyola (Md.)
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Lehigh and Loyola Maryland Set to Battle for First Sunday Night on CBS Sports Network
1/15/2022 4:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Winners of five-of-six, Lehigh is set to square off against equally-surging Loyola Maryland on Sunday evening in Stabler Arena. Please note the new gametime of 6 p.m. as the game was picked up by CBS Sports Network. The Mountain Hawks and Greyhounds (who have won four straight) are two of four teams tied for first in the standings at 4-1 in Patriot League play. Lehigh is coming off a historic 97-64 win at Bucknell Thursday night, in the Mountain Hawks' largest margin of victory against the Bison since Dec. 10, 1952 (an 85-49 final).
Thursday's game was full of feats that haven't happened in a long time, if ever. Most notably, the Mountain Hawks set a program record for made 3-pointers with 18 (on 34 attempts). Included was six consecutive 3-pointers in the span of 4:42 in the second half. First year Keith Higgins Jr. set the tone early, scoring 16 of Lehigh's first 18 points (coming in the game's first 6:51) and finishing with a career-high 26 (which included 6-of-9 from 3-point range). He added a career-high nine assists and five rebounds to tie a career high, with zero turnovers. Junior Evan Taylor had 21 points, 14 coming after halftime. He also set career highs in 3-pointers made (5) and attempted (8). Junior Reed Fenton was 2-of-3 from behind the arc, while fifth year Marques Wilson was 2-of-5, eclipsing 100-career 3-pointers in the process. Thursday marked the first time Lehigh was 50 percent or better from behind the arc since last Jan. 2 vs. Lafayette when the Mountain Hawks were 4-of-8. Thursday was the second time this season that two Lehigh players had 5+ made threes (along with Dec. 4 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore when juniors Fenton and Jake Betlow each knocked down five).
First year Tyler Whitney-Sidney also excelled with career highs in points (11) and rebounds (8). On his birthday, senior Nic Lynch scored a season-high 15 points. Higgins finished with career highs in points (26) and assists (9), with zero turnovers. All those contributions helped Lehigh pick up the largest margin of victory in Sojka Pavilion history by an opponent and most 3-pointers in Sojka by a Bison opponent.
Lehigh had only four turnovers on Thursday, its fewest since also committing just four on Feb. 18, 2013 (at home against Bucknell). Not counting a shot clock violation Lehigh intentionally took with two seconds remaining, the Mountain Hawks went the game's final 31:16 without a turnover. Lehigh also finished with 25 assists on 37 made field goal. The Mountain Hawks' point total was their most in any game since Jan. 9, 2019 at Holy Cross – a 99-94 overtime win. It was their most points in a regulation game since scoring 100 against Saint Francis Pa. on Dec. 12, 2016. Lehigh's 97 points were its most ever scored against Bucknell in regulation (Thursday was the 181st all-time meeting in the all-time series).
In the end, Lehigh snapped a seven-game losing streak at Bucknell and beat the Bison at Sojka Pavilion for the first time since an 82-71 win on Jan. 11, 2017. The Mountain Hawks' 4-1 start to Patriot League play marks their best start since the 2012-13 season. Lehigh's 5-1 stretch over its last six is its best stretch since also winning five-of-six from Jan. 23 to Feb. 9 of 2019.
Loyola enters with a 10-6 record and 4-1 Patriot League mark, as part of the four-way tie for first with Lehigh, Army and Navy. The Greyhounds began with an overtime loss at Army, but have responded with consecutive wins over Holy Cross, Boston University, Bucknell and Lafayette. Loyola is 7-0 at home this season and 2-5 on the road. Cam Spencer leads the Greyhounds, and Patriot League, in scoring - averaging 18.6 points per game. Jaylin Andrews is second on the team and sixth in the league (averaging 15.0 points per contest). Golden Dike leads Loyola in rebounding (6.9) while Kenneth Jones' 84 assists lead the way.
Lehigh has won four of the last five (and six of its last eight) against Loyola to take a 14-12 lead in the all-time series. That includes splitting a pair of meetings last season. After the Greyhounds picked up a 75-47 win in Stabler Arena, the Mountain Hawks responded with an impressive bounce back 76-72 victory on the road, led by 19 points from Fenton. The year prior (2019-20), the Mountain Hawks went 3-0 vs. the Greyhounds, including a 78-75 Patriot League Tournament victory. Lehigh has won three of its last four at home vs. Loyola. 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.
Following Sunday's game, the Mountain Hawks hit the road on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. matchup at Navy.
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Thursday's game was full of feats that haven't happened in a long time, if ever. Most notably, the Mountain Hawks set a program record for made 3-pointers with 18 (on 34 attempts). Included was six consecutive 3-pointers in the span of 4:42 in the second half. First year Keith Higgins Jr. set the tone early, scoring 16 of Lehigh's first 18 points (coming in the game's first 6:51) and finishing with a career-high 26 (which included 6-of-9 from 3-point range). He added a career-high nine assists and five rebounds to tie a career high, with zero turnovers. Junior Evan Taylor had 21 points, 14 coming after halftime. He also set career highs in 3-pointers made (5) and attempted (8). Junior Reed Fenton was 2-of-3 from behind the arc, while fifth year Marques Wilson was 2-of-5, eclipsing 100-career 3-pointers in the process. Thursday marked the first time Lehigh was 50 percent or better from behind the arc since last Jan. 2 vs. Lafayette when the Mountain Hawks were 4-of-8. Thursday was the second time this season that two Lehigh players had 5+ made threes (along with Dec. 4 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore when juniors Fenton and Jake Betlow each knocked down five).
First year Tyler Whitney-Sidney also excelled with career highs in points (11) and rebounds (8). On his birthday, senior Nic Lynch scored a season-high 15 points. Higgins finished with career highs in points (26) and assists (9), with zero turnovers. All those contributions helped Lehigh pick up the largest margin of victory in Sojka Pavilion history by an opponent and most 3-pointers in Sojka by a Bison opponent.
Lehigh had only four turnovers on Thursday, its fewest since also committing just four on Feb. 18, 2013 (at home against Bucknell). Not counting a shot clock violation Lehigh intentionally took with two seconds remaining, the Mountain Hawks went the game's final 31:16 without a turnover. Lehigh also finished with 25 assists on 37 made field goal. The Mountain Hawks' point total was their most in any game since Jan. 9, 2019 at Holy Cross – a 99-94 overtime win. It was their most points in a regulation game since scoring 100 against Saint Francis Pa. on Dec. 12, 2016. Lehigh's 97 points were its most ever scored against Bucknell in regulation (Thursday was the 181st all-time meeting in the all-time series).
In the end, Lehigh snapped a seven-game losing streak at Bucknell and beat the Bison at Sojka Pavilion for the first time since an 82-71 win on Jan. 11, 2017. The Mountain Hawks' 4-1 start to Patriot League play marks their best start since the 2012-13 season. Lehigh's 5-1 stretch over its last six is its best stretch since also winning five-of-six from Jan. 23 to Feb. 9 of 2019.
Loyola enters with a 10-6 record and 4-1 Patriot League mark, as part of the four-way tie for first with Lehigh, Army and Navy. The Greyhounds began with an overtime loss at Army, but have responded with consecutive wins over Holy Cross, Boston University, Bucknell and Lafayette. Loyola is 7-0 at home this season and 2-5 on the road. Cam Spencer leads the Greyhounds, and Patriot League, in scoring - averaging 18.6 points per game. Jaylin Andrews is second on the team and sixth in the league (averaging 15.0 points per contest). Golden Dike leads Loyola in rebounding (6.9) while Kenneth Jones' 84 assists lead the way.
Lehigh has won four of the last five (and six of its last eight) against Loyola to take a 14-12 lead in the all-time series. That includes splitting a pair of meetings last season. After the Greyhounds picked up a 75-47 win in Stabler Arena, the Mountain Hawks responded with an impressive bounce back 76-72 victory on the road, led by 19 points from Fenton. The year prior (2019-20), the Mountain Hawks went 3-0 vs. the Greyhounds, including a 78-75 Patriot League Tournament victory. Lehigh has won three of its last four at home vs. Loyola. 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.
Following Sunday's game, the Mountain Hawks hit the road on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. matchup at Navy.
Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
| Date: | January 16, 2022 |
| Opponent: | Loyola Maryland Greyhounds |
| Tip-off: | 6 p.m. |
| Arena (Capacity): | Stabler Arena (5,600) |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 6-11, 4-1 Patriot League |
| Loyola's Record: | 10-6, 4-1 Patriot League |
| Series: | Lehigh leads, 14-12 |
| TV: | CBS Sports Network |
| Radio: | Lehighsports.com |
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