Lehigh Returns to the Court Saturday vs. Boston University

Saturday, February 5

Bethlehem, Pa.

2 p.m.

Lehigh University

Boston University

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Photo by: Justin Lafleur

Lehigh Returns to the Court Saturday vs. Boston University

2/4/2022 1:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Coming off perhaps one of the most improbable comebacks in NCAA history, the Lehigh men's basketball team looks to keep the momentum going when it hosts Boston University on Saturday. Opening tipoff is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+. Saturday will be part of "This Game is No Secret" ERACISM initiative (Equality, Reconciliation, Action - Coaches Inclusion Social Movement). Saturday's game is also presented by Lehigh's Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity.

On Wednesday, the Mountain Hawks found themselves down 17 in the final five minutes and 15 with less than three minutes to go, but Lehigh ended the game on a 20-2 run – capped off by an Evan Taylor steal and layup with 10 seconds remaining – to pick up a 63-62 victory. The comeback was just two points shy of the largest-ever comeback in NCAA men's basketball history with less than five minutes remaining (the record is 19). In the 18-2 run over the final 2:38, senior Nic Lynch and Taylor each hit a pair of 3-pointers which proved critical. Lynch finished the game with a season-high 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range. Lynch is now shooting exactly 50 percent from behind the arc this season (15-of-30). Taylor finished with 13 points, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. He's now shooting 42.3 percent from three with a team-high 41 makes on the year.

First year Tyler Whitney-Sidney added nine points, including two free throws during the late run. He also dished a game and career-high five assists. Junior Jake Betlow made a key contribution off the bench, knocking down a 3-pointer to snap Lehigh's 5:20 scoring drought to begin the half, while also hitting two clutch free throws 16 seconds remaining, preceding Taylor's game-winning steal and layup. With the win, Lehigh improved to 4-0 after losses in Patriot League play.

Wednesday marked the second big comeback of the Patriot League schedule, as Lehigh opened the league slate with a 19-point comeback at American. With the win, the Mountain Hawks earned a regular-season sweep of Navy - a team that's 7-2 against the rest of the Patriot League and 14-6 (including nonleague) against every other team but Lehigh. The win propels the Mountain Hawks into a tie for second place in the league standings (along with Navy, Army and Loyola). The four-way tie is one game ahead of Boston University - Saturday's opponent for Lehigh.

Boston University is 15-9 on the season, 6-5 in Patriot League play following a 75-70 defeat vs. Holy Cross Monday. That snapped the Terriers' four-game winning streak which included wins over Loyola, Lehigh, Lafayette and Colgate. Preseason Patriot League Player of the Year Javante McCoy leads BU in scoring – averaging 16.6 points per game. Sukhmail Mathon is averaging a double-double via 15.2 points and a league-leading 10.3 rebounds per contest. Walter Whyte averages 12.7 points and 6.2 rebounds. Boston University stands third in the league in scoring offense (69.7) and second in scoring defense (65.6).

Boston University won the first meeting this season, 80-74, using a 7-0 run to end the first half to take a 10-point halftime lead. The Mountain Hawks hit nine of their first 10 3-pointers to begin the second half and give themselves a chance until the end, but the Terriers prevailed. Overall, BU holds an 11-8 lead in the all-time series. Over the last 10 games, each side has won five. Lehigh has won the last two meetings in Bethlehem, which included a hard-fought 57-55 overtime win in what proved the Terriers' final loss of the season. The year prior (2018-19), the Mountain Hawks won both meetings against the Terriers for the first time since they joined the Patriot League for the 2013-14 campaign. The teams have played in three of the last five Patriot League Tournaments (2017, 2018 and 2021). Boston U. won the first-ever meeting between the two sides in 1968-69 by an 81-56 final. It marked the only meeting between the two schools before the Patriot League era.

After Saturday's game, the Mountain Hawks hit the road on Wednesday to face Colgate at 7 p.m.

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Date:	February 5, 2022
Opponent:	Boston University Terriers
Tip-off:	7 p.m.
Arena (Capacity):	Stabler Arena (5,600)
Location:	Bethlehem, Pa.
Lehigh's Record:	9-14, 7-4 Patriot League
Boston University's Record:	14-7, 7-3 Patriot League
Series:	Boston University leads, 11-8
TV:	ESPN+
Radio:	Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM & 1230 AM