Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Basketball Hosts Lehigh Wednesday in Sojka Pavilion
1/15/2003 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 15, 2003
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A new era of Bucknell Basketball begins this evening, as the Bison debut in the brand new, 4,000-seat Sojka Pavilion. Bucknell began practicing in its new digs last week, and the facility has quickly drawn rave reviews from players and coaches. Immediately following tonight's women's game, a brief ceremony will take place at mid-court, formally dedicating Sojka Pavilion. Not to be lost in all the pageantry is the fact that a pretty good basketball game is expected to take place on the new hardwood. Bucknell and Lehigh both captured their Patriot League openers on Saturday, and both squads boast overall records on the happy side of .500. The Bison are seeking their third straight win (something they have not done since late in the 2000-01 season) and their first 2-0 league start since 1995. Perhaps the Patriot League's most improved team, Lehigh has won three straight and seven of its last 10. With nine wins, the Mountain Hawks have already leapt past last year's 5-win total.
the state of the bison
Bucknell made a strong leap into Patriot League play with an impressive 11-point victory over defending regular-season champion American on Saturday. The Bison pieced together a potent formula of clutch shooting (7-15 3FG), dominant rebounding (37-23) and outstanding defense to pull away from the Eagles. After a brief four-game slump against the meat of Bucknell's non-league schedule, senior forward Boakai Lalugba has returned to all-star form over the last two games, shooting 68.4% from the field while averging 19.0 ppg and 13.5 rpg. Steady play from senior guard Dan Blankenship and increased bench production has helped offset the loss of senior Brian Werner to a shoulder injury.
scouting lehigh
The Mountain Hawks, under the guidance of rookie head coach Billy Taylor, are clearly the Patriot League's most improved ballclub. After suffering through a 5-23 season in 2001-02, Lehigh already has nine wins this season, including a 17-point road thrashing of Navy on Saturday. A good shooting team (45.6 FG%, 73.6 FT%), Lehigh has also stepped it up defensively, allowing only 63.9 ppg while holding opponents to 39.9% shooting from the field. Senior Matt Logie ranks second in the Patriot League (behind Boakai Lalugba) in scoring at 15.6 ppg. Logie has a team-high 23 3-pointers and is nearly automatic from the free-throw line (56-60). Senior guard Zlatko Savovic is enjoying his best season, averaging 13.1 ppg. Junior Ra Tiah (9.4 ppg, 61-37 asst-TO ratio) rounds out the backcourt. Center Matt Crawford (8.9 ppg, 59.0 FG%) is also off to an excellent start.
series notes
This is the 135th game in the 101-year-old rivalry between Bucknell and Lehigh. The Bison have an 82-52 series lead, including a 23-3 mark since the start of the 1991-92 season. Bucknell had a 20-game winning streak against Lehigh snapped in the 2000 Patriot League Tournament, when the Mountain Hawks pulled off a 73-62 upset. The Bison have won 11 straight against Lehigh in Lewisburg, with their last loss a 98-87 decision in 1990-91.
hello sojka pavilion
The Bucknell men's and women's basketball teams are debuting in their shiny new home tonight - the 4,000-seat Sojka Pavilion (pronounced SOY-ka). The facility will be formally dedicated between games of the men's and women's basketball doubleheader against Lehigh. The multi-purpose arena is but one part of a state-of-the-art, $46.6 million (including operating and endowment) Recreation and Athletics Center, much of which opened this fall. The Kinney Natatorium features a 50-meter-by-25-yard Olympic class pool that is the new home to the Bison swimming, diving and water polo teams. The Krebs Family Fitness Center is also online, featuring more than 15,000 square feet devoted to strength and fitness equipment. Sojka Pavilion is named in honor of Dr. Gary A. Sojka, a former Bucknell University president and current faculty member in the biology department. Sojka is credited with guiding Bucknell's successful move into the Patriot League, and he currently serves as the university's NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative.
sojka pavilion fast facts
* Architect: Ewing Cole Cherry Brott (Philadelphia, Pa.)
* Construction Manager: R.S. Mowery & Sons (Mechanicsburg, Pa.)
* Total square footage of Sojka Pavilion: 72,700
* Distance from playing floor to ceiling: 49 feet
* Number of seats for basketball: 4,000
* Number of public restrooms: 6 (4 women, 2 men)
* Number of concession stands: 2
* Scoreboard provider: Translux Sports/Fair Play
* Wood Floor provider: Connor Sports Flooring Corp.
* Seating provider: Irwin Seating Company
* Basketball standard provider: Schelde International
remembering davis gym
Dedicated on June 13, 1938, Davis Gymnasium was the product of a gift from 20 members of the Bucknell Board of Trustees. It is named for John Warren Davis, an 1896 Bucknell graduate and chairman of the Board of Trustees at the time of dedication. The principal address at the cornerstone-laying ceremony in September 1937 was delivered by former baseball commissioner Judge Kenesaw M. Landis. In the first game played in Davis Gym on Jan. 14, 1939, the Bison lost 38-33 to American. The construction cost of Davis Gym? Approximately $400,000. Dan Blankenship will forever be the answer to the trivia question: "Who made the last basket in Davis Gym?" Blankenship made a free throw with 28 seconds remaining to close the scoring.
Davis Domination
Large, noisy crowds helped Davis Gym gain a reputation through the years as a miserable place for visiting teams to play. Bucknell was 4-1 in Davis this season, 70-25 (.737) under head coach Pat Flannery, and 461-233 (.664) all-time in 64 seasons in the facility.
last year's bucknell-lehigh meetings
On Jan. 26, 2002, Bucknell received 16 points from Bryan Bailey and used a late 13-2 run to cruise to a 69-50 victory. The Bison made only 16 of 44 field goals but converted a season-high 33 of 45 free-throw attempts. Both teams got off to sluggish starts, and the game was tied at 4-4 as late as the 10:29 mark. But Bucknell closed the first half on a 9-0 run to assume a 24-16 halftime lead. In the rematch on Feb. 24 in Bethlehem, Scott Taylor shot 8-for-8 from the field and scored 20 points to help Lehigh snap an 11-game losing streak and defeat Bucknell 75-64. Bailey led all scorers with 21 points and Boakai Lalugba had 14 points and seven rebounds for the Bison. After an even first half, Lehigh used a 14-5 run early in the second to take command.
notes from the american game
Boakai Lalugba recorded his eighth double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds in Bucknell's 63-52 victory ... the Bison avenged two losses to American from a year ago - the Eagles were the only Patriot League team to sweep BU ... Matt Quinn (14 points) made 4 of 5 3-point attempts, including three in the opening five minutes to get the Bison off to a quick start ... Bucknell held a 37-23 rebounding edge, inclduing 12-3 on the offensive glass ... freshman Tarik Viaer-McClymont made his first two career field goals and finished with five points ... Bucknell led by as many as 19 points in the second half before withstanding a late AU run ... the Eagles got as close as eight at 60-52.
