Wednesday, February 28
Bethlehem, Pa.
6:00 PM
Lehigh University
12-16,9-8Patriot
62
vs
64
Boston University
14-16,9-8Patriot
1
2
OT 1
F
Boston U.
30
28
6
64
Lehigh
39
19
4
62
Photo by: Clark Boinis
Mountain Hawks Drop Overtime Heartbreaker To Boston U.
2/28/2024 9:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh opened a two-game homestand on Wednesday evening, welcoming the Boston University Terriers to Stabler Arena. The Mountain Hawks and Terriers were tied after regulation, but BU ultimately came away with the narrow 64-62 overtime victory.
"It was a good game between two really good teams," said head coach Dr. Brett Reed. "It's really disappointing and a tough way to lose."
Lehigh (12-16, 9-8 PL) has now lost to Boston U. (14-16, 9-8 PL) by a combined three points across their two meetings this season. The Terriers and Mountain Hawks are now tied for fourth in the Patriot League standings with BU now holding the tiebreaker. Lehigh has secured a top-six seed, meaning that they won't play in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament, but whether or not they'll host their quarterfinal bout is still in jeopardy.
The Mountain Hawks held a 39-30 advantage at halftime after shooting 60% (6-10) from three-point range in the opening frame. The Terriers led 6-5 through the first 2:30, but Lehigh outscored BU 18-7 over the next six minutes to lead 23-13 with under ten minutes remaining. The two teams traded buckets down the stretch until a Dominic Parolin layup with two seconds remaining put Lehigh ahead by nine at the break.
After an excellent half offensively in the first, Lehigh's offense struggled to get going early in the second. BU outscored Lehigh 13-6 through the first 5:30 to cut the Mountain Hawk lead down to two points. The Terriers gained their first lead since 17:45 in the first half by way of an Ethan Okwuosa layup with under ten minutes remaining in regulation, but a quick four points courtesy of Nasir Whitlock free throws and a Tyler Whitney-Sidney bucket put Lehigh back up by three.
The lead would change hands three more times until Parolin tied the game 58-58 on a turnaround hook shot with just under four minutes left in the game. His bucket would be the last points scored in regulation, as neither team scored over the last 3:48 to send the game to overtime.
Scoring was hard to come by in overtime as well, as a Parolin layup over two minutes into the period broke the tie. BU's Kyrone Alexander knocked down a triple on the ensuing possession to take a one-point lead followed by an Okwuosa free throw that put the Terriers ahead by two. Whitney-Sidney was able to tie the game on an impressive drive to the rim with six seconds remaining, but Okwuosa converted a reverse layup with 0.2 left on the clock to steal the win for BU.
Whitney-Sidney led the Mountain Hawks in scoring, posting 20 points to go along with four rebounds, two steals and an assist. He now sits only 23 points away from eclipsing 1,000 for his career.
Joining Whitney-Sidney in double-figures was Parolin, who tallied 18 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season and third straight game with 10+ boards. In addition, Keith Higgins Jr. scored eight points off the bench, leaving him only 26 points away from the career 1,000 mark.
The Mountain Hawks return to Stabler Arena on Saturday, March 2 for a nationally televised matchup on CBS Sports Network with the defending Patriot League champion Colgate Raiders. The game will be a 'White Out', as fans are encouraged to wear white and students will be given free t-shirts. Senior Day celebrations will take place in pregame as well. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. while the women's team will also face the Raiders at home on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Like Lehigh men's basketball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
"It was a good game between two really good teams," said head coach Dr. Brett Reed. "It's really disappointing and a tough way to lose."
Lehigh (12-16, 9-8 PL) has now lost to Boston U. (14-16, 9-8 PL) by a combined three points across their two meetings this season. The Terriers and Mountain Hawks are now tied for fourth in the Patriot League standings with BU now holding the tiebreaker. Lehigh has secured a top-six seed, meaning that they won't play in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament, but whether or not they'll host their quarterfinal bout is still in jeopardy.
The Mountain Hawks held a 39-30 advantage at halftime after shooting 60% (6-10) from three-point range in the opening frame. The Terriers led 6-5 through the first 2:30, but Lehigh outscored BU 18-7 over the next six minutes to lead 23-13 with under ten minutes remaining. The two teams traded buckets down the stretch until a Dominic Parolin layup with two seconds remaining put Lehigh ahead by nine at the break.
After an excellent half offensively in the first, Lehigh's offense struggled to get going early in the second. BU outscored Lehigh 13-6 through the first 5:30 to cut the Mountain Hawk lead down to two points. The Terriers gained their first lead since 17:45 in the first half by way of an Ethan Okwuosa layup with under ten minutes remaining in regulation, but a quick four points courtesy of Nasir Whitlock free throws and a Tyler Whitney-Sidney bucket put Lehigh back up by three.
The lead would change hands three more times until Parolin tied the game 58-58 on a turnaround hook shot with just under four minutes left in the game. His bucket would be the last points scored in regulation, as neither team scored over the last 3:48 to send the game to overtime.
Scoring was hard to come by in overtime as well, as a Parolin layup over two minutes into the period broke the tie. BU's Kyrone Alexander knocked down a triple on the ensuing possession to take a one-point lead followed by an Okwuosa free throw that put the Terriers ahead by two. Whitney-Sidney was able to tie the game on an impressive drive to the rim with six seconds remaining, but Okwuosa converted a reverse layup with 0.2 left on the clock to steal the win for BU.
Whitney-Sidney led the Mountain Hawks in scoring, posting 20 points to go along with four rebounds, two steals and an assist. He now sits only 23 points away from eclipsing 1,000 for his career.
Joining Whitney-Sidney in double-figures was Parolin, who tallied 18 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season and third straight game with 10+ boards. In addition, Keith Higgins Jr. scored eight points off the bench, leaving him only 26 points away from the career 1,000 mark.
The Mountain Hawks return to Stabler Arena on Saturday, March 2 for a nationally televised matchup on CBS Sports Network with the defending Patriot League champion Colgate Raiders. The game will be a 'White Out', as fans are encouraged to wear white and students will be given free t-shirts. Senior Day celebrations will take place in pregame as well. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. while the women's team will also face the Raiders at home on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Like Lehigh men's basketball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Team Stats
BU
Lehigh
FG%
.420
.397
3FG%
.286
.381
FT%
.900
.615
RB
36
30
TO
16
13
STL
6
11
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
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