Bucknell University Athletics
Extreme Dunk Team to Perform At Halftime Tuesday's Bucknell-Robert Morris Game
12/7/2004 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 7, 2004
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Bucknell wraps up one of its busiest stretches of the season Tuesday night when Robert Morris visits Sojka Pavilion, then the Bison will take a well-deserved 11-day break for final exams. The Bison, who just played four road games in an eight-day span, have played tenacious basketball thus far, particularly on the defensive end where they are allowing a meager 59.5 points per game and holding opponents to under 40 percent shooting. That defense will be put to the test on Tuesday against a Robert Morris squad that has scored 192 points in its last two contests. Led by high-scoring guard Maurice Carter (16.5 ppg) and Chaz McCrommon (14.3 ppg), the Colonials come in with a 2-4 record, but three of the losses came in succession on the road against Ohio State, Virginia and Pittsburgh. On Saturday, Robert Morris lost an 88-85 shootout to NEC rival Quinnipiac. At the same time Bucknell was winning a gut-check type game at Yale, the preseason No. 3 pick in the Ivy League behind Princeton and Penn. Seemingly headed for its third straight loss, the Herd rallied behind its best six-minute stretch of the season. The Bison overcame a six-point deficit in the final minute of regulation, then outscored the Bulldogs 16-8 in overtime. Bucknell has won five of the previous eight meetings against Robert Morris. Last season the Colonials won on their home floor, 74-67.
about the bison
Bucknell is coming off a thrilling 73-65 overtime victory over Yale, and Tuesday night the Bison hope to build on that comeback effort in a home game against Robert Morris. The Bison were struggling offensively throughout much of the second half, but their offensive execution in the closing moments of regulation and throughout overtime was terrific. Charles Lee got an open look for the tying 3-pointer with 15 seconds left in regulation, and in overtime Bucknell made its first three field goals to grab control. Defensively, the Bison had been outstanding all season, and Saturday's game at Yale was no different. After Kevin Bettencourt opened the OT session with a 3-pointer, the Bulldogs never did get off a tying shot attempt the rest of the day. Bucknell forced three turnovers in overtime and 17 total, while holding the Elis to 36.5% shooting.
last time out
On Saturday at John J. Lee Amphitheater, Charles Lee scored 22 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds as Bucknell rallied for a 73-65 overtime win at Yale. The Bison led 26-21 at halftime, but the Bulldogs used a 16-6 run early in the second half to take the lead. Yale led by as many as seven points in the second half and still led by six inside a minute to play when John Clark hit a big 3-pointer to pull Bucknell within 57-54. Dominick Martin missed two free throws, then Lee hit the biggest shot of the day for the Bison, a tying 3-pointer from the left corner with 15 seconds left. Kevin Bettencourt opened the overtime period with another trey, and Bucknell never trailed in the extra period.
inside the boxscore
Bucknell improved to 10-1 in overtime games under Pat Flannery after Saturday's win at Yale ... Chris McNaughton also had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds ... McNaughton has had difficulty with fouls this season, but Saturday he flipped the page on Yale center Dominick Martin, sending him to the bench with two fouls in the first three minutes of the game ... John Clark tallied a season-high 11 points, one shy of his career high ... Abe Badmus registered four of Bucknell's 10 steals ... he made two of the biggest plays in overtime, first drawing a charge on Edwin Draughan, then he picked Alex Gamboa's pocket near halfcourt and drew an intentional foul ... Bucknell outrebounded Yale 48-35.
the last bucknell-robert morris meeting
On Jan. 7, 2004 at the Sewall Center, Kevin Bettencourt scored 22 points, but it wasn't quite enough for Bucknell as the Bison fell 74-67. Bettencourt made 6 of 13 from 3-point range. Maurice Carter scored 21 for the Colonials. Bucknell opened a back-and-forth second half on an 8-2 run and took a 37-36 lead on Bettencourt's 3-pointer. The Bison still led by a point at 48-47 after Davorin Skornik's free throw with 10:23 left, but the Colonials answered with an 11-4 run buoyed by three 3-pointers. Bucknell had a chance to cut into a five-point deficit at the four-minute mark but Chris McNaughton missed a dunk attempt, and the Colonials made four straight free-throws to push the lead to nine at 65-56 with 1:27 left.
free points
In recent years Bucknell has struggled at times with its free-throw shooting, but that area has become a real strength for the Bison. Led by outstanding free-throw shooters Kevin Bettencourt (92.0%) and Charles Lee (73.5%), as well as the much-improved shooting of Chris McNaughton (68.8%, up from 59.5% last season), Bucknell is shooting 71.7% as a team. Even more impressive, the Bison are knocking them down at crunch time, connecting on 82.6% (38-46) in the final five minutes of games (including overtime).
getting defensive
Pat Flannery's teams have long been known for their defensive prowess, and this year's edition has been just as stingy. Through seven games the Bison are allowing only 59.5 ppg and opponents are shooting only 39.7% from the field. In its last 100 games, Bucknell has allowed 70 points only 25 times, 80 points only six times and 90 points just once.
against the NEC
Robert Morris is the second Northeast Conference opponent on Bucknell's schedule this season. The Bison lost 70-65 to Saint Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 22. All-time, Bucknell is 37-27 (.578) against teams currently in the NEC.
