Bucknell University
11-12, 5-5
Navy
6-17, 2-8
Niesz, Bison Outgun Navy 59-41
2/14/2003 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Sophomore Chris Niesz scored a career-high 18 points, all on 3-pointers, and Boakai Lalugba registered his 13th double-double of the season in Bucknell's 59-41 Patriot League victory over Navy Friday night at Sojka Pavilion.
Bucknell (11-12, 5-5) benefited from big runs to start both halves in snapping a three-game losing streak.
The Bison scored the first 11 points of the game, holding Navy (6-17, 2-8) scoreless for the first 7:27. After Navy closed the first half on a 13-1 run to draw within 24-21, Bucknell ripped off the first 16 points of the second period before the Midshipmen finally scored at the 13:38 mark.
Niesz, who doubled his previous high scoring output, was the catalyst in both runs. He started the game with a 3-pointer, then hit two more in the surge that began the second half. Niesz, making only his third start of the year, made 6 of 11 treys on the night, falling one attempt shy of the Bucknell record.
Bucknell led by as many as 19 points twice in the second half, the first time coming on Tarik Viaer-McClymont's tip-in that closed the 16-0 run and made it 40-21 with 14:03 to play.
Lalugba finished with 13 points, 12 rebounds, four steals and two blocks, while holding Navy's top inside player, Francis Ebong, to just two points and one rebound.
Guard Taj Mathews led Navy with 10 points.
The 41 points were the fewest scored by Navy since a 59-41 loss to Holy Cross in the first round of the 2002 Patriot League Tournament. It was also Navy's lowest scoring output against Bucknell since the Midshipmen defeated the Bison 41-36 in 1947.
The Midshipmen made only 6 of 19 second-half field-goal attempts and shot 36 percent for the game. Bucknell shot 44 percent, despite missing their final eight shots of the first half.
Bucknell led 23-8 after Kevin Bettencourt made a pair of free throws with 8:02 left in the first half, but the Bison did not make a field goal in the final 9:02 of the half, enabling Navy to close its deficit to just three on Scott Long's 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The Bison return to action next Friday at Lafayette at 7:30 p.m., while Navy visits Colgate that night at 9 p.m.
