Bucknell University Athletics
Revenge on Minds of Bison Cagers as Navy Sails into Lewisburg
2/6/2002 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 6, 2002
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Bucknell has revenge in mind tonight as the Midshipmen of Navy invade Davis Gym in the second game of the second round of Patriot League play. In the first meeting between these two teams, a 64-49 Navy win Jan. 12 at Alumni Hall, the Bison left Annapolis reeling from perhaps their ugliest performance of the season. In that game Bucknell committed 36 turnovers, allowed 23 offensive rebounds, and watched the Mids turn a one-point game into a rout with a 16-0 run early in the second half. One positive from that game - and it has been a positive all season - was Bucknell's defensive effort. The Orange and Blue forced 24 turnovers of their own and limited Navy to 35.1% shooting from the field. Along with Army, Bucknell and Navy enter tonight's game sitting in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Patriot League standings with 4-4 records. American leads at 6-2, followed by Lafayette and Holy Cross at 5-3.
The State of the Bison
Bucknell is looking to shake off its first two-game losing streak since falling consecutively to Penn State and South Florida in December. The Patriot League's second-ranked defensive unit in terms of both points allowed and field-goal percentage, Bucknell has slipped a bit defensively in the two recent losses to Holy Cross and Lafayette. The Bison have allowed 70 points in a game only six times this season, but two of them have come in the last two games. Holy Cross shot 51.0% in its 73-65 win at Davis Gym one week ago, and Lafayette shot 45.5% (and 60.0% in the second half) in a 74-68 decision on Saturday. In its eight wins this season, Bucknell has allowed an average of 59.6 ppg. In the 13 losses, it has allowed 67.8.
Scouting Navy
Like Bucknell, the Midshipmen sail into Lewisburg on a two-game losing streak. A 67-66 overtime loss at American last Wednesday was followed by a 62-54 setback to Holy Cross Saturday. Always a tough home team, Navy has struggled on the road this season, winning just once (at Colgate) in eight tries on enemy hardwood. Forward Jehiel Lewis, who had a memorable game against Bucknell in the first meeting, leads Navy in scoring at 13.5 ppg., and he is averaging 8.1 rpg. in league play. Lewis set Academy and league records with 12 steals against the Bison on Jan. 12, and he nearly made it a triple-double with 21 points and nine rebounds. Guard Jason Jeanpierre averages 11.1 ppg. and leads the Mids in assists with 87. Also expected to start are forward Francis Ebong (9.9 ppg., 6.9 rpg.), guard Demond Shepard (8.2 ppg.) and center Mitch Moore (5.5 ppg.).
Series Notes
Including its 64-49 win over Bucknell earlier this season, Navy holds a 27-13 lead in an all-time series that dates back to 1920. The Midshipmen have won six straight in the series since a 56-51 Bison victory at Davis Gym in 1998-99. Four of Navy's six wins during the streak have come in Annapolis, and the average margin of victory during the streak is 15.8 ppg.
The First Bucknell-Navy Clash
On Jan. 12 in Annapolis, Md., Jehiel Lewis scored 19 points, set a Navy school record with 12 steals and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Midshipmen to a suffocating 64-49 victory (see boxscore, page 24). Navy forced 36 Bucknell turnovers and used a 16-0 run to break open a one-point contest early in the second half. Leading by just two at the half at 28-26, Navy turned up the defensive pressure in the second half and held Bucknell without a field goal for 6:32. Chris Rodgers' 3-pointer from the left corner made it 31-30 Navy, but the Mids reeled off 16 straight points to assume control of the contest. Scott Long's follow of his own miss gave Navy its largest lead of 21 points at 55-34 with 9:35 to play. Bucknell made things interesting with a 9-0 run, cutting the deficit to 12 at 55-43 with 6:53 to play. Brian Werner and Dan Blankenship both drained 3-pointers during the spurt, but the Bison could get no closer than 12. Lewis' 12 steals was also a Patriot League record and was one of 23 takeaways for the Mids. Navy also dominated the boards, claiming 23 of its 40 rebounds on the offensive glass. Bucknell had 27 rebounds and was held to only 40 shots. Boakai Lalugba, limited to only 14 minutes due to foul trouble, led Bucknell with 11 points and six rebounds. Guard Matt Quinn played only 10 minutes after leaving with a leg injury eight minutes into the game.
Bailey Newest Member of 1,000-Point Club
Senior guard Bryan Bailey scored his 1,000th career point at Lafayette on Saturday, becoming the 28th Bucknell player to reach the milestone. With 20 points in the game, Bailey currently has 1,007 career markers, tying him with Patrick King '92 for 28th place on Bucknell's all-time scoring chart. Bailey also became the 37th Patriot League player to accomplish the feat. Holy Cross' Ryan Serravalle scored his 1,000th point only about an hour before Bailey.
Bailey Healthy
Senior guard Bryan Bailey returned to the Bison lineup Jan. 23 at Colgate after a six-game absence due to a sprained MCL in his right knee. Bailey entered the game with Bucknell trailing 12-7 at the 15:21 mark of the first half. He made his first field goal attempt 14 seconds later. Playing in 3-4 minute stretches, Bailey totaled 13 points, four rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes. He has started the last three games, and has averaged 16.0 ppg. since his return.
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 98-49 (.667) league record and have had only two losing seasons in 11 years.
Bison Bench a Key
In recent games Bucknell has relied on its bench in order to be successful. During a two-game winning streak against Colgate and Lehigh, the bench contributed 46 points. In the next two games, both losses, the bench accounted for a total of only 13 points. Reserves have accounted for 17.9 ppg. in Bucknell's wins this season, but only 12.5 ppg. in its losses.
