Bucknell University Athletics
First-Place Bison to Host Holy Cross in Men's Hoops Clash
1/28/2002 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 28, 2002
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
The State of the Bison
For the first time this season, Bucknell has pieced together consecutive victories with last Wednesday's road win at Colgate and Saturday's 19-point win over Lehigh at Davis Gym. The back-to-back wins have coincided with the return of All-Patriot League guard Bryan Bailey from a knee injury. While injuries have hampered Bucknell's offensive consistency this season, stellar defensive play has been a constant. The Bison have not allowed more than 78 points in a game all season, and they have allowed 70 or more only four times in 19 games. Bucknell ranks second in the Patriot League in scoring defense (63.8) and field goal percentage defense (.411).
Scouting Holy Cross
The defending Patriot League champs and preseason favorites, the Crusaders have struggled offensively at times this season and come to Lewisburg with a 9-12 overall record, 3-3 in the Patriot League. Holy Cross is shooting only 38.5% as a team and has averaged just 57.3 points over its last seven games since an impressive 95-75 win over Fordham on Jan. 2. Senior guard Ryan Serravalle leads the team in scoring at 11.6 ppg., followed closely by 2001 Patriot League Player of the Year Tim Szatko at 11.0 ppg. The Crusaders feature the league's top freshman in 6-11 center Nate Lufkin, who averages 8.0 ppg. and 5.3 rpg. Junior center Patrick Whearty (8.4 ppg., 6.0 rpg.) is a nice complement to Lufkin at 6-9, but Whearty has missed the last two games with an eye injury. Joining Serravalle in the backcourt are junior Brian Wilson (9.6 ppg.) and sophomore Jave Meade (6.0 ppg. and league-best 5.1 apg.).
Common Opponents
The only opponents common to both Bucknell and Holy Cross are Patriot League foes. While the Bison have a one-game lead on Holy Cross in the league standings, the Crusaders have beaten the two teams - Navy and American - that Bucknell has lost to. On the other hand, Holy Cross lost to Lafayette, Colgate and Army, all teams that Bucknell defeated. The only similar result is both teams defeating last-place Lehigh.
Series Notes
Two teams that had never met prior to the inception of the Patriot League, Bucknell and Holy Cross have developed a sharp rivalry over the last decade. Bucknell holds a 16-11 series lead, thanks in large part to a 10-game winning streak that spanned four seasons and included two Patriot League Tournament wins. The Crusaders ended that streak last season, winning both games in convincing fashion. Bucknell is 7-5 against Holy Cross in Davis Gym. The two teams have met five times in the Patriot League Tournament, including the 1993 championship game won by the Crusaders in Davis Gym.
Last Year's Bucknell-Holy Cross Clashes
Holy Cross swept a pair of regular-season meetings in 2000-01, holding the Bison under 50 points in both games. Jan. 17 in Lewisburg, the Crusaders shot 65.4 percent in the first half, took a 19-point halftime lead and cruised to a 69-45 win. Tim Szatko scored 18 points to lead all scorers, while Boakai Lalugba had 11 for the Bison. In the Feb. 7 rematch at Hart Center (see box, above), Bucknell trailed only 50-49 with 3:40 to go, but Holy Cross outscored the Bison 8-0 down the rest of the way. Bucknell played without Bryan Bailey, who injured his ankle during pregame warmups. Brian Werner and Dan Blankenship scored 12 points each, while Lalugba was held to a season-low one point. Szatko and Brian Wilson led the Crusaders with 12 apiece.
