Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Men's Basketball Travels to Colgate Wednesday
1/22/2002 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2002
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With the eight Patriot League teams bunched tightly in the standings after four games, and with no team yet to make an emphatic statement that it is clearly the frontrunner, every conference clash right now is extremely important. That rings especially true for tonight's matchup between longtime rivals Bucknell and Colgate. The Bison are 2-2 in Patriot League play, just a game off the lead, but the Orange and Blue have struggled mightily on the road this season, losing 8 of 9. Tough to beat at home, Bucknell needs a few road wins if it hopes to challenge for the top spot. Colgate, meanwhile, strutted into the new year with the league's best non-conference record, but the Raiders are 1-3 to start league play. It's still early, but a possible three-game deficit would be extremely difficult to overcome. Bucknell has enjoyed recent success against Colgate, taking six of the last seven, including a first-round game at last year's PL Tournament.
The State of the Bison
Bucknell tonight is confronted with a tough road test at Colgate's Cotterell Court, typically one of the more difficult trips in the Patriot League. The Bison are coming off a 69-52 loss at American on Saturday. In that game Bucknell played much better than the 17-point final margin indicates. The Bison had many good looks at the basket but just could not solve some unfriendly rims at Bender Arena. Starters Brian Werner (0-7), Chris Rodgers (1-13) and Matt Quinn (2-8) were a combined 3-28 from the field. At the other end, American rarely missed, shooting 58.3% for the game, including 10-for-17 from 3-point range. Despite the shooting disparity, the Bison had only 12 turnovers, held a 32-31 rebounding edge and limited the Eagles to only three offensive boards.
Scouting Colgate
After entering Patriot League play with a league-best 8-4 record, Colgate has struggled to a 1-3 conference start after Saturday's 95-93 overtime loss to Navy. The Raiders have also lost to American (76-59) and Lehigh (79-74), while scoring a 46-42 win at preseason league favorite Holy Cross. Colgate is the league's highest scoring team at 74.1 ppg., and it is one of only two league squads that boasts more assists than turnovers. Senior forward Pat Campolieta is having another all-star season, averaging a team-best 15.8 ppg. and 6.8 rpg. Campolieta and Bucknell's Boakai Lalugba are the only two players to rank in the top five in the league in both scoring and rebounding. Athletic sophomore forward Howard Blue comes off the bench to chip in 11.8 ppg. and 5.7 rpg. Sophomore guard Mark Linebaugh (11.4 ppg.), last season's Patriot League Rookie of the Year, is joined in the backcourt by junior Tim Sullivan (9.8 ppg., 3.1 apg.). Also expected to start are juniors Martin Marek (6.5 ppg.) and Dave Hardy (8.9 ppg.).
Common Opponents
Colgate and Bucknell have faced three common foes this season, with the results the same in all three cases. Both the Bison and Raiders defeated Cornell in non-league play, and both have been beaten by Navy and American in the last two weeks.
Series Notes
After 74 all-time meetings, Bucknell and Colgate are separated by a mere two games. Buoyed by wins in six of the last seven matchups, the Bison bring a narrow 38-36 edge into tonight's tilt. Colgate's only win in the last seven was a 63-62 decision last season at Cotterell Court. The two teams have met four times in Patriot League Tournament play, with Bucknell winning three, including a 75-68 decision last season in the quarterfinals.
Last Year's Bucknell-Colgate Clashes
Last Jan. 24 in Hamilton, Tim Sullivan drained a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left to propel the Raiders to a 63-62 win. Sullivan scored a career-high 24 points and was the only Colgate player to score more than eight. Bucknell, which led for most of the second half, got 17 points from Bryan Bailey and 10 points and 10 rebounds from Boakai Lalugba. Feb. 18 at Davis Gym, Lalugba and Brian Werner both had double-doubles to lead the Bison to a 71-60 triumph. The victory snapped Bucknell's six-game losing streak and was Pat Flannery's 200th coaching win. The Bison trailed by two at the break but used a 14-2 run to pull ahead in the second half. Bailey, Werner and Lalugba tied for game-high honors with 13 points each, while Mark Linebaugh led the Raiders with 11. The rubber match came March 3 at the Patriot League Tournament (see box), when Bucknell rode a 12-0 start to a 75-68 first-round win. Lalugba had 22 points and 11 caroms, while Bailey added 15 points. Linebaugh again led the Raiders with 16.
Second Season Success
No Patriot League team has won more conference games than Bucknell since the start of league play in 1990-91. The Bison carry a 96-48 (.667) league record and have had only two losing seasons in 11 years.
Training Room Report
Senior co-captain Bryan Bailey has missed the last six games after suffering a sprained MCL 30 seconds into the second half of the Hofstra game on Dec. 29. The All-Patriot Leaguer returned to practice this week but is still listed as doubtful for tonight's game.
Off the Mark
While Bucknell's .328 field-goal percentage in Saturday's loss at American was statistically not its lowest of the season, it was perhaps the most frustrating because many of the misses were good looks that just wouldn't fall. Starters Brian Werner (0-7), Chris Rodgers (1-13) and Matt Quinn (2-8) were a combined 3-28 from the field, and even Boakai Lalugba, one of the league's most accurate shooters, missed 10 of 18.
On the Mark
The one Bison player not affected by Saturday's shooting woes was junior guard Dan Blankenship, who made his first five field goals and finished 7-for-9. Blankenship made a pair of 3-pointers and tied his career high with 16 points.
