Bucknell University
2-1
Columbia
0-4
Lalugba Leads Bison Over Columbia, 61-47
11/29/2002 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov 29, 2002
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Boakai Lalugba posted his second straight double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, leading Bucknell to a 61-47 victory over Columbia and a berth in the championship game of the Red Auerbach Colonial Classic.
Frontcourt mate Brian Werner added 17 points, including seven during a crucial 13-3 run that vaulted the Bison to a 46-36 lead with 12:23 to play. The Bison have now won two straight since an opening night loss at Notre Dame, while Columbia fell to 0-4.
Bucknell grabbed a 29-19 lead after an 18-2 run late in the first half. After falling behind 17-11 at the midway mark of the opening period, Matt Quinn nailed two 3-pointers and Kevin Bettencourt hit another to trigger the spurt that gave the Bison their largest lead of the season.
Three consecutive 3-pointers by Columbia - the last two from Jeremiah Boswell - helped reduce Bucknell's lead to just three at the half at 31-28.
Matt Land's free throw with 16:16 left in the second half tied the game at 33, but Lalugba ignited Bucknell's game-changing run with a pair of free throws and a fastbreak jam. The Bison, who were solid on defense all evening, held the Lions to only two field goals in the last 16:49 of the contest.
Bucknell forced 18 Columbia turnovers and limited the Lions to 33.3 percent shooting. The Bison scored 26 points off turnovers, compared to only six for Columbia.
Boswell canned 5 of 6 3-point attempts and led all scorers with 20 points. Marco McCottry had 15 points and 16 rebounds, finishing one carom shy of the tournament record.
Lalugba added three blocks, three steals and two assists to his 18 points and finished 8 of 11 from the free-throw line. Freshman Kevin Bettencourt struggled from the floor, making 1 of 7 attempts, but he added a game-high six assists and two steals without a turnover.
Bucknell will face either George Washington or Mount St. Mary's in Saturday's tournament championship. Tip-off is 8 p.m.
