Wednesday, February 9
Hamilton, N.Y.
7 p.m.
Lehigh University
at
Colgate
Photo by: Morgan Weindel
Lehigh Travels to Colgate Wednesday Night for Rematch with Raiders
2/8/2022 1:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh hopes to improve to 5-0 after losses during Patriot League play, but it won't be easy as the Mountain Hawks travel to first-place Colgate on Wednesday night. Opening tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+. Lehigh will be vying to become the first team to sweep the Raiders this year (and first since the 2019-20 campaign) after topping Colgate on Jan. 4. The Mountain Hawks got out to a big lead then after Colgate took a second-half advantage, Lehigh answered. Most recently, Lehigh dropped a tight 80-74 final vs. Boston University Saturday.
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Both of the Mountain Hawks' losses to BU came by identical 80-74 finals, although they played out much differently. In the first meeting in Boston, the Terriers led by 10 at the half. On Saturday, the teams were deadlocked at 35 after 20 minutes of play. Lehigh had a tough start to the second half, but trimmed a nine-point deficit down to one (61-60), however that's as close it would get. Junior Evan Taylor and senior Nic Lynch combined for 50 points in a sensational effort. Taylor finished with a career-high 26 points (13 in each half) while Lynch had a season-high 24 (15 coming after halftime).
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Saturday marked the third time in league play the Mountain Hawks had multiple players in double figures, also vs. Colgate (when first year Keith Higgins Jr. had 23 and senior Jeameril Wilson scored 20) and at Bucknell (when Higgins tallied 26 and Taylor added 21). The 50 combined points was the most by a pair of Mountain Hawks since Marques Wilson scored 28 and Lynch scored 22 on Jan. 2, 2021 vs. Lafayette. It was the most combined points by two Mountain Hawks in a regulation game since Jordan Cohen scored 32 and James Karnik had 21 in a 94-78 win vs. Boston University on Jan. 26, 2019.
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Taylor finished 11-of-16 from the floor, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range. Lynch was 7-of-10 and 2-of-2 from long range (also 8-of-8 from the free throw line). Lynch is now shooting 53.1 percent from three on the season and 57.7 percent in Patriot League games - by far and away tops in the league. Jeameril Wilson also scored 10 points Saturday to round out Mountain Hawks in double figures. As a team, Lehigh was 25-of-46 from the field, the fewest missed field goals in a game (21) since hitting 35-of-52 in that Jan. 26, 2019 win against the Terriers. In fact, Lehigh only missed two free throws as well and was 7-of-15 from 3-point range in a highly-efficient offensive effort. Turnovers proved costly, however, as the Mountain Hawks had 14 to BU's five and the Terriers held a 14-0 edge in points off turnovers.
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Colgate stands 12-11 on the season, 8-2 in Patriot League play following an 87-60 win over Holy Cross on Monday. The Raiders shot 58 percent from the floor, led by 16 points from Keegan Records. Overall, Colgate has won four straight and eight of the last nine, with its only league losses coming at Lehigh and Boston University. Nelly Cummings leads the Raiders in scoring while three others average double-figure points as well - Jack Ferguson (12.1), Tucker Richardson (11.3) and Ryan Moffatt (10.5). Keegan Records leads the team in rebounding (5.8) while Tucker Richardson is tops in assists (92). The Raiders are first in the Patriot League in scoring offense (75.5) and fourth in scoring defense (68.9).
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Lehigh's 85-81 win over Colgate on Jan. 4 snapped a five-game Raiders' win streak in the series and pulled the Mountain Hawks to within 57-42 all-time. But despite Colgate's streak, the Mountain Hawks have won seven of the last 13 in the series dating back to 2016. Prior to this season, Lehigh and Colgate previously played in the 2020 Patriot League Quarterfinals, an 83-70 Raiders' win in Hamilton. The teams were scheduled to play last year, but didn't due to late-season scheduling adjustments around the league due to COVID-19. Lehigh's last victory at Colgate came on Feb. 14, 2018, a game that saw then-rookie Marques Wilson score a career-high 28 points. The first-ever meeting between Lehigh and Colgate was in 1909-10, a 25-24 Colgate win. Lehigh's first victory was in 1961-62 by a 72-71 final.
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After Wednesday's game, the Mountain Hawks return home on Saturday to host Lafayette at 12 p.m. Lehigh will be recognizing its 2012 team, which won the Patriot League Championship and beat Duke in the NCAA Tournament. The Rivalry is presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network and Coordinated Health.
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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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Both of the Mountain Hawks' losses to BU came by identical 80-74 finals, although they played out much differently. In the first meeting in Boston, the Terriers led by 10 at the half. On Saturday, the teams were deadlocked at 35 after 20 minutes of play. Lehigh had a tough start to the second half, but trimmed a nine-point deficit down to one (61-60), however that's as close it would get. Junior Evan Taylor and senior Nic Lynch combined for 50 points in a sensational effort. Taylor finished with a career-high 26 points (13 in each half) while Lynch had a season-high 24 (15 coming after halftime).
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Saturday marked the third time in league play the Mountain Hawks had multiple players in double figures, also vs. Colgate (when first year Keith Higgins Jr. had 23 and senior Jeameril Wilson scored 20) and at Bucknell (when Higgins tallied 26 and Taylor added 21). The 50 combined points was the most by a pair of Mountain Hawks since Marques Wilson scored 28 and Lynch scored 22 on Jan. 2, 2021 vs. Lafayette. It was the most combined points by two Mountain Hawks in a regulation game since Jordan Cohen scored 32 and James Karnik had 21 in a 94-78 win vs. Boston University on Jan. 26, 2019.
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Taylor finished 11-of-16 from the floor, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range. Lynch was 7-of-10 and 2-of-2 from long range (also 8-of-8 from the free throw line). Lynch is now shooting 53.1 percent from three on the season and 57.7 percent in Patriot League games - by far and away tops in the league. Jeameril Wilson also scored 10 points Saturday to round out Mountain Hawks in double figures. As a team, Lehigh was 25-of-46 from the field, the fewest missed field goals in a game (21) since hitting 35-of-52 in that Jan. 26, 2019 win against the Terriers. In fact, Lehigh only missed two free throws as well and was 7-of-15 from 3-point range in a highly-efficient offensive effort. Turnovers proved costly, however, as the Mountain Hawks had 14 to BU's five and the Terriers held a 14-0 edge in points off turnovers.
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Colgate stands 12-11 on the season, 8-2 in Patriot League play following an 87-60 win over Holy Cross on Monday. The Raiders shot 58 percent from the floor, led by 16 points from Keegan Records. Overall, Colgate has won four straight and eight of the last nine, with its only league losses coming at Lehigh and Boston University. Nelly Cummings leads the Raiders in scoring while three others average double-figure points as well - Jack Ferguson (12.1), Tucker Richardson (11.3) and Ryan Moffatt (10.5). Keegan Records leads the team in rebounding (5.8) while Tucker Richardson is tops in assists (92). The Raiders are first in the Patriot League in scoring offense (75.5) and fourth in scoring defense (68.9).
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Lehigh's 85-81 win over Colgate on Jan. 4 snapped a five-game Raiders' win streak in the series and pulled the Mountain Hawks to within 57-42 all-time. But despite Colgate's streak, the Mountain Hawks have won seven of the last 13 in the series dating back to 2016. Prior to this season, Lehigh and Colgate previously played in the 2020 Patriot League Quarterfinals, an 83-70 Raiders' win in Hamilton. The teams were scheduled to play last year, but didn't due to late-season scheduling adjustments around the league due to COVID-19. Lehigh's last victory at Colgate came on Feb. 14, 2018, a game that saw then-rookie Marques Wilson score a career-high 28 points. The first-ever meeting between Lehigh and Colgate was in 1909-10, a 25-24 Colgate win. Lehigh's first victory was in 1961-62 by a 72-71 final.
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After Wednesday's game, the Mountain Hawks return home on Saturday to host Lafayette at 12 p.m. Lehigh will be recognizing its 2012 team, which won the Patriot League Championship and beat Duke in the NCAA Tournament. The Rivalry is presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network and Coordinated Health.
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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 9, 2022 |
| Opponent: | Colgate Raiders |
| Tip-off: | 7 p.m. |
| Arena (Capacity): | Cotterell Court (1,750) |
| Location: | Hamilton, N.Y. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 9-15, 7-5 Patriot League |
| Colgate's Record: | 12-11, 8-2 Patriot League |
| Series: | Colgate leads, 57-42 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
| Radio: | Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM & 1230 AM |
Players Mentioned
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