Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Men's Hoops Looks to Reverse Fortunes in Navy's Alumni Hall
1/17/2003 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 17, 2003
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Bucknell hits the road for the first time in league play, looking to erase a decade of bad memories in Navy's Alumni Hall. The Bison have not beaten the Midshipmen there since 1993. The Orange & Blue have not won more than two games in a row - or lost more than two in a row - this season and come to Annapolis with a record of 7-7 overall, 1-1 in Patriot League play. Navy has struggled thus far, winning only four of its first 15 games and starting 0-2 in the Patriot League. The Midshipmen have dropped four straight since beating Eastern Michigan on Dec. 28. All four of Navy's wins have come in Alumni Hall, where the Mids are 56-17 in PL games under 11th-year head coach Don DeVoe. The Bison have run into some trouble on the road in 2002-03, winning only once in five tries, although the four losses have come to Notre Dame, George Washington, Penn State and Arizona State. Bucknell last season was 3-4 on the road in Patriot League play, the fourth-best away mark in the league.
the state of the bison
After enduring a week of hype and pageantry surrounding the final game in Davis Gym and the first game in Sojka Pavilion, the Bison return to the usual grind of Patriot League play this afternoon against Navy. After an emotional 11-point win over defending regular-season champion American in the final game in Davis, they rode that momentum to an early 21-6 lead in front of a record crowd in the Sojka Pavilion debut on Wednesday. But an untimely shooting drought and some amazing play down the stretch by Lehigh's Matt Logie and Zlatko Savovic helped the Mountain Hawks rally for the win. After having a 2-0 Patriot League start seemingly in hand, the Bison now must regroup against Navy in order to remain near the top of the PL standings.
scouting navy
The Midshipmen, under the guidance of veteran head coach Don DeVoe, are looking to shake a four-game losing streak. Navy is off to an 0-2 Patriot League start, losing at home to Lehigh (76-59) and at American (70-53). While still known for its high-pressure, trapping defense, Navy has struggled on offense. The Mids have averaged only 51.7 ppg., in their last three games and have topped the 70-point plateau only three times in 15 games. Guard Jason Jeanpierre (11.5 ppg., 3.1 apg.), forward Scott Long (11.1 ppg.) and forward Francis Ebong (9.9 ppg., 7.1 rpg.) have been key performers. Jeanpierre is the only Navy player to start all 15 games, while 10 different Mids have started at least one game.
series notes
This is the 42nd all-time meeting in a series that dates back to 1920, with Navy holding a 27-14 series lead. Navy won the first 10 meetings before the Bison cracked trough with its first win in 1961-62. Since the Midshipmen joined the Patriot League in 1991-92, Navy has won 15 of 25 meetings, including a 3-0 mark in PL Tournament games. Navy defeated Bucknell 76-75 in the 1997 Patriot League championship game. The Mids are 24-3 all-time against the Bison in Annapolis.
last year's bucknell-Navy meetings
On Jan. 12, 2002 in Annapolis, Jehiel Lewis scored 19 points, set a Navy record with 12 steals and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Midshipmen to a suffocating 64-49 win over Bucknell. Navy forced Bucknell into a whopping 36 turnovers and used a 16-0 run to break open a one-point contest early in the second half. The Bison were outrebounded 40-27 and allowed the Mids to grab 23 offensive caroms. Boakai Lalugba was saddled by foul trouble but still led the Bison with 11 points and six rebounds in 13 minutes. In the rematch in Davis Gym on Feb. 6, 2002, Bucknell rode the hot hand of Chris Rodgers and dominated the Midshipmen 76-56. Rodgers scored a career-high 23 points on 8 of 9 shooting from the floor (4-4 3FG), while Brian Werner added 16 points and 10 rebounds. Lalugba again got in foul trouble and scored a season-low four points, but the Bison did not need him on that night as they shot 58.7 percent as a team.
notes from the lehigh game
Bucknell let an early double-digit lead slip away in a 60-56 loss to Lehigh at Sojka Pavilion ... the Bison made only one field goal in the last eight minutes ... Bucknell was outrebounded (32-24) for the first time in 10 games ... Boakai Lalugba tied his career high with four assists - the second straight game he has reached that figure ... freshman Tarik Viaer-McClymont did not miss a shot in 10 minutes, making 2-2 from the field and 2-2 from the line.
hello sojka pavilion
Other than the final score, Bucknell's debut in Sojka Pavilion (pronounced SOY-ka) on Wednesday was a smashing success. A total of 3,622 fans packed the new arena, setting a Bucknell basketball attendance record. The facility was 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.
comfort zone
Bucknell junior guard Chris Rodgers has enjoyed two of his better games against Navy. In last February's meeting in Davis Gym, Rodgers took a 4.7 scoring average into the contest but exploded for a career-high 23 points. He made 8 of 9 from the field, including all four 3-point attempts. In Annapolis last season, Rodgers made 4 of 6 from the field, scored nine points and logged a career-high six steals. In two career games against Navy he is shooting 80.0% from the field (12-15).
mr. rodgers neighborhood
Junior guard Chris Rodgers has been Pat Flannery's "super sub" since early last season. Rodgers typically provides solid relief at the point and excellent defense, and occasionally he unleashes an offensive explosion (witness his 23-point game against Navy last season). Rodgers was the star of the UC Santa Barbara victory, scoring a season-high 18 points while knocking down 7-of-8 huge free throws in the final minute. He also had three assists without a turnover in 29 minutes of action. Rodgers has 44 points in his last five games, the most productive scoring stretch of his career.
the iron man
Senior co-captain Dan Blankenship on Wednesday played in his 100th consecutive game - he has never missed a varsity contest in his Bucknell career. The last 61 of those appearances have been as a starter. He moves into the top 20 on Bucknell's all-time games played list today at Navy.
shake it off
Like many freshmen, Bison guard Kevin Bettencourt has battled inconsistency early in his college career, however he has shown a remarkable knack for bouncing back from rough outings. Six times this season Bettencourt has shot under 30% from the field, but in the games immediately following those tough days, he is averaging 15.8 ppg. and shooting 53.4% from the field (31-58).
