Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Cagers Visit Cornell Tuesday
1/20/2003 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 20, 2003
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Bucknell takes a brief hiatus from Patriot League play tonight with a non-conference road tilt against longtime rival Cornell. While the contest does not impact the league standings, the Bison are looking for a solid performance to erase a two-game losing streak and build some momentum heading into a key two-game weekend homestand. The Herd hosts Army on Friday night and Lafayette on Sunday afternoon. Bucknell, which has not endured a three-game losing skein since the start of last season, is mired in a four-way tie for fourth place with a 1-2 PL record. Cornell has won three of its last five contests after a 2-6 start. The Big Red stuffed Columbia 51-38 in their Ivy league opener on Saturday, and they also have an impressive 80-73 win over Lafayette to their credit.
the state of the bison
Bucknell has struggled offensively over the last game and a half. Since taking a 12-point lead into the halftime break against Lehigh last Wednesday, the Bison have been outscored 106-77 while shooting only 39.7% from the field. While the Bison look to upgrade their efficiency on the offensive end, the defense has been solid. Bucknell has allowed more than 66 points only once (to Arizona State) in its last 10 outings. The Orange and Blue lead the Patriot League in total defense, allowing only 61.0 ppg.
scouting cornell
The Big Red, under third-year head coach Steve Donahue, have won three of their last five games and stand at 5-8 overall, 1-0 in the Ivy League. Cornell got 15 points from Grant Harrell and 10 rebounds from Eric Taylor in a 51-38 win over Columbia in the Ivy League opener on Saturday. Taylor leads the team in both scoring (14.1 ppg) and rebounding (7.5 rpg), while Cody Toppert (12.3 ppg) and Ka'Ron Barnes (11.3 ppg) also score in double figures. The Big Red are shooting 43.4% from the field and averaging 63.0 ppg. They allow 68.3 ppg. Cornell boasts an impressive team assist-to-turnover ratio of 201-185, led by point guard Barnes' 52-28 ledger. Cornell has already played four Patriot League opponents, defeating Lafayette (80-73) and Army (69-50), while losing to Colgate (76-58) and Lehigh (66-49).
series notes
Bucknell and Cornell meet for the 40th time tonight in an all-time series that dates all the way back to 1898. The Big Red are clinging to slim 20-19 series lead. The two teams have met annually since 1987-88, with Bucknell winning 10 of 15 games over that span, including the last two.
last year's bucknell-cornell meeting
On Nov. 26, 2001 in Lewisburg, Bucknell registered its first win of the season after an 0-4 start, and it was one of its most exciting victories as well, 71-62 in overtime. Boakai Lalugba finished with 30 points and 15 rebounds and nailed a tying 3-pointer (the first of his career) at the final buzzer of regulation to send the game into extra time. Matt Quinn finished with 16 points, including a clutch 3-pointer that gave the Bison the lead for good in OT. With only 4.5 seconds left in regulation, the Big Red led 53-50 and sent Wallace Prather to the free-throw line to ice the game. But he missed the front end of a 1-and-1, setting up Lalugba's heroic turnaround jumper from the top of the key. Cornell sprinted to a 20-4 lead, but Bucknell used a 10-0 run to climb within 10 at halftime. Ka'Ron Barnes led Cornell with 21 points, while A.J. Castro came off the bench to score 12. Dan Blankenship added 16 points for the Bison.
notes from the navy game
Guard Chris Rodgers made his first start of the season and led the Bison with 12 points and four assists in 33 minutes ... Navy shot 25-for-37 from the foul line, compared to Bucknell's 8-for-12 ... the Bison were outrebounded for the second straight game, 36-29 ... Boakai Lalugba just missed his ninth double-double of the season, finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds ... Jordan Hardenbergh made his first field goal of the season for the Bison ... Jeremiah Bennett played two minutes off the bench in his first appearance since opening night.
