Bucknell University
10-9, 4-2
Colgate
8-11, 3-3
Defense Again the Ticket as Bison Men Squelch Colgate 62-42
1/31/2003 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan 31, 2003
HAMILTON, N.Y. - Bucknell used another impressive defensive effort to post its third straight victory, 62-42 over Colgate Friday night at Cotterell Court. Boakai Lalugba registered 18 points and 10 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season, lifting Bucknell's record back over .500 at 10-9 overall and 4-2 in the Patriot League.
The Bison are just one game behind Holy Cross and Lehigh for first place in the Patriot League heading into Sunday afternoon's clash at Holy Cross.
Bucknell held Colgate (8-11, 3-3) without a field goal for a seven-minute stretch in the first half and an eight-minute duration in the second stanza. It was that second-half drought that proved most costly for the Raiders, as Bucknell ripped off 16 straight and 20 of 22 points to turn a seven-point lead into a lopsided 50-25 margin with 8:34 to play.
Eight different Bison scored during the 20-2 run, which was capped by a Matt Quinn 3-pointer. Kevin Bettencourt also hit a trey in the surge, while Dan Blankenship added a conventional 3-point play and Lalugba scored twice inside.
Bucknell never trailed in the game and was only tied once at 2-2. The Bison survived a six-minute scoring drought midway through the opening period and stretched a one-point lead to eight at 20-12 following Ben Slater's layup with 5:32 left. Bucknell led by as many as 12 late in the half before Mark Linebaugh hit a long 3-pointer with 29 seconds left to bring the Raiders within nine at 28-19.
Linebaugh led Colgate with 14 points, while Dave Hardy finished with 10 for Colgate.
In its current three-game winning streak, Bucknell has allowed 38, 48 and 42 points, marking the fewest points allowed by the Bison in three consecutive games since the 1947-48 season.
The Bison, who entered the game ranked 10th nationally in scoring defense at 59.8 ppg, limited Colgate to 33.3 percent shooting and forced 16 turnovers. Bucknell held Colgate's leading scorer, Howard Blue, to only four points on 2-for-8 shooting. Bucknell held a 31-27 edge on the glass.
Bettencourt (11 points) and Blankenship (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Bison, who shot 46.3 percent from the field and 82.6 percent (19-23) from the free-throw line.
Bucknell's three-game winning streak is its first since late in the 2000-01 season.
