Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Basketball Hosts Robert Morris Tuesday
1/7/2003 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2003
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Two teams seeking to reverse recent downturns heading into conference play meet tonight in the next-to-last game in Davis Gym. Bucknell has dropped three of their last four games, including Saturday's 63-52 loss to Niagara in Martz Hall. The Bison begin league play Saturday against American in the Davis Gym finale. Robert Morris has dropped four straight contests, including an 85-49 setback to fifth-ranked Pittsburgh over the weekend. The Colonials resume Northeast Conference action on Saturday at home against UMBC. The Bison are happy to be back in the friendly confines of Davis Gym, where they have not played a game in 29 days. The Orange and Blue is 2-1 in Davis this season, 68-25 under Pat Flannery and 460-233 all-time. The Bison are averaging nearly eight points more in home games than on the road, while shooting 44.2% from the field at home compared to 38.1% on enemy hardwood. Robert Morris is 2-5 on the road this season, including three straight losses.
the state of the bison
With Patriot League play looming just around the corner, Bucknell is hoping to regain its shooting consistency. After carving up UC Santa Barbara's zone defense with nine 3-pointers and clutch shooting down the stretch in a 67-60 victory, the Bison suffered a miserable shooting day against Niagara last time out. Bucknell matched its season high with 58 shots but made only 16 for a 27.6 FG%. The Bison shot only 25.0% (6-24) from 3-point range and were only able to convert a season-high 18 offensive rebounds into six second-chance points. The Bison enjoyed a stretch of six out of seven games in which they shot 42% or better as team, and they won four of those games. Over the last three games, however, the Herd has shot only 34.5% (50-145) from the field. Bucknell will also likely open league competition without the services of senior forward Brian Werner, who has not played since Dec. 9 due to a dislocated shoulder.
scouting robert morris
The Colonials are looking to snap a four-game losing skid tonight in their final non-conference tilt of the season. Like Bucknell, Robert Morris is looking to bounce back from a tough shooting day, as it shot only 29.2% in Saturday's 85-49 loss to No. 5 Pittsburgh. The Colonials do boast an explosive offense, led by sophomore guard Maurice Carter (19.6 ppg). Carter broke the school single-game scoring record with 42 against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 26. Amazingly, the record was only four days old, as forward Aaron Thomas scored a then-record 39 points against UMKC on Nov. 22. Thomas averages 14.0 ppg and 6.0 rpg, nearly identical to frontcourt-mate Chaz McCrommon (14.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg). Senior guard DaMarcus Ellis (7.4 ppg) and sophomore guard Duke Cooper (4.2 ppg) round out the starting lineup. The Colonials score 71.4 ppg, while allowing 76.1 ppg.
series notes
Bucknell and Robert Morris have met six times previously, with the Bison winning four. In the most recent series clash, the Bison won 65-62 in Davis Gym to complete a 3-0 start to the 1999-2000 season. The previous year, the Colonials won 66-51 in the season opener in Pittsburgh.
the last bucknell-robert morris meeting
On Nov. 23, 1999 in Davis Gym, Dan Bowen collected 15 points and nine rebounds to lead Bucknell to a 65-62 victory. Dyrika Cameron and Bryan Bailey added 14 apiece and Bucknell held a 37-29 rebounding edge. Bucknell overcame 19 turnovers by shooting a solid 47.8% from the field. Gene Nabors led Robert Morris with 19 points. Dan Blankenship, then a freshman, is the only active player to have played in that game. He had two points and an assist in 12 minutes off the bench.
davis gym finale slated for saturday
Saturday's Patriot League opener against American will mark the final basketball game in Davis Gymnasium. The facility opened on Jan. 14, 1939 (ironically, the initial game was also against American) and the Bison have won 460 games there in the last 64 years. Many former Bucknell men's and women's players and coaches will be on hand to celebrate the final game in Davis on Saturday, including the Bison's all-time winningest coach, Charlie Woollum. After the Davis Gym nets are cut down by the current team captains, all fans, alumni and media will be invited to an "open house" in Sojka Pavilion.
davis domination
Large, noisy crowds have helped Davis Gym gain a reputation through the years as a miserable place for visiting teams to play. Bucknell is 2-1 in Davis this season, and the Bison have an all-time record of 460-233 (.664) in 64-plus seasons in the facility.
bison to debut in sojka pavilion jan. 15
The Bucknell men's and women's basketball teams will have a new home beginning next Wednesday, Jan. 15, as the Bison will move next door to the 4,000-seat Sojka Pavilion. 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 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.
notes from the niagara game
Forward Boakai Lalugba matched his career high with 16 rebounds ... it was his third 16-rebound effort and second this season ... despite making only 2 of 22 field-goal attempts, the starting backcourt of Dan Blankenship and Kevin Bettencourt combined for six assists and only two turnovers ... Chris Niesz made his first 3-pointer of the year.
fun in the sun
The Bison enjoyed a productive trip to Tempe, Ariz., just after Christmas, going 1-1 against an outstanding field at Arizona State's azcentral.com Hoops Classic. Bucknell hung with the host Sun Devils for 16 minutes before ASU closed the first half with a 14-2 run to pull away. Bucknell trailed 65-31 with eight minutes to play, but the Bison outscored the Sun Devils 21-14 the rest of the way and fell by a final margin of 79-52. That strong finish carried over to the consolation game, where the Orange and Blue dominated the first 10 minutes and last 10 minutes in a 67-60 win over UCSB. Kevin Bettencourt had 19 points and Chris Rodgers finished with 18 off the bench to spark the victory.
more from the asu tournament
Bucknell's win over UC Santa Barbara was its first against a Big West opponent ... the Bison made a season-high 24 free throws in 29 attempts (.828) against the Gauchos, including 9 of 10 in the final 52 seconds ... in addition to combining for 37 points, Kevin Bettencourt and Chris Rodgers also teamed up for seven rebounds, eight 3-pointers and four assists without a turnover ... Bucknell outrebounded both opponents in Arizona ... Dan Blankenship scored a season-high 12 points against Arizona State.
bucknell against the nec
Bucknell has enjoyed a great deal of success against Northeast Conference foes. The Bison are 41-26 (.612) all-time against the 11 teams that currently comprise the NEC.
