Bucknell University Athletics
Bailey, Lalugba Named To All-Patriot League First Team
3/1/2002 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 1, 2002
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Bucknell senior guard Bryan Bailey and junior forward Boakai Lalugba were both selected as First Team All-Patriot League performers for the 2001-02 season, the league office announced at its annual Awards Banquet Friday on the eve of the Patriot League Tournament.
Adding to the list of Bison honors was freshman guard Chris Niesz, who was named to the Patriot League All-Rookie Team.
The selection of Bailey and Lalugba to the all-league first team marks the fifth time Bucknell has placed two players on that exclusive list, and the first time since 1996-97 when J.R. Holden and Dan Bowen made the first team.
Bucknell has had a First Team All-Patriot League selection in all 12 years of the conference's existence. No other team can make that claim. Dating back to their days in the East Coast Conference, the Bison have had a first team all-conference player in every year since 1984, a run of 18 straight years.
Joining Bailey and Lalugba on the first team are American's Patrick Doctor, who was also named the league's player of the year, Colgate's Pat Campolieta, Holy Cross' Tim Szatko and Lafayette's Brian Burke. Named to the all-league second team were Army's Charles Woodruff and Chris Spatola, American's Glenn Stokes, Lehigh's Matt Logie and Navy's Jehiel Lewis.
Bailey earned a First Team All-Patriot League spot for the second straight year, despite missing 10 games this season due to two different injuries. Despite the missed time, Bailey still averages 18.1 points per game this season, a figure that would lead the Patriot League if he had played in the minimum 75 percent of his team's games to qualify for the scoring title.
In 10 games since returning from his most recent injury a sprained knee suffered in the opening minute of the second half of Bucknell's win over Hofstra on Dec. 29 Bailey has been brilliant. Entering Bucknell's Patriot League Tournament opener with Army, Bailey has scored at least 20 points in five straight games and six of his last seven. He is the first Bison in five years to score 20 in five straight contests. He has averaged an even 20.0 points per game since his return and 24.2 ppg over the last five games.
This week's conference player of the week, Bailey has also been a terror on the glass in recent weeks. He has averaged 7.6 rebounds over the last five games, and his rebounding average of 5.3 per game over the course of the season ranks eighth nationally among all players 6'2" or shorter, according to STATS, Inc.
This season Bailey became the 28th Bucknell player to score 1,000 points in a career. He currently ranks 17th on Bucknell's all-time scoring list with 1,143 career points. He also ranks tied for fourth in Bucknell annals in made free throws (339) and 10th in made 3-point field goals (92).
Lalugba is a first-time member of the All-Patriot League Team. A steady force at both ends of the floor, Lalugba enters the tournament ranked third in the Patriot League in rebounding (7.1 rpg.), third in field-goal percentage (.551), fifth in blocked shots (0.9 bpg.), sixth in scoring (14.7 ppg.) and tied for 10th in steals (1.3 spg.). He and Campolieta are the only two players in the league to rank in the top 10 in each of those categories.
Known around the league for his thunderous slam dunks, Lalugba this season brought his career totals to 862 points and 441 rebounds. With his senior year still to come, Lalugba will almost certainly become only the 14th player in Bucknell history to amass 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.
Lalugba's most memorable game of the season was a monster 30-point, 15-rebound output in Bucknell's 71-62 overtime win over Cornell on Nov. 26. Lalugba sent the game to overtime with a 3-pointer at the final buzzer of regulation, his first-ever 3-point field goal. He has scored at least 20 points in a game three times this season and has three double-doubles.
Niesz has seen his minutes rise as the season has progressed. A deadly long-range shooter, Niesz made headlines for the first time with two big 3-pointers in Bucknell's 76-56 rout of Navy on Feb. 6. His six points in that game marked a career high, and all of them came early in the game when the outcome was in doubt.
Projected as a key player for the Bison in future years, Niesz performed very well in a handful of junior varsity games, including a 30-point effort against Scranton. In varsity action, he has appeared in 17 games, totaling 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Joining Niesz on the all-rookie team are 2002 rookie of the year Nate Lufkin of Holy Cross, Eric Heil of Lehigh, Kenny Grant of Lafayette and Keith Williams of Colgate.
Army's Pat Harris was named Patriot League Coach of the Year.
Bucknell is 12-15 overall and 8-6 in conference play this season. The Bison are the No. 3 seed in the Patriot League Tournament and battle No. 6 seed Army in the opening round Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Should they get past Army, the Bison would face the Holy Cross/Navy winner in the semifinals Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
