Bucknell University
5-4
Robert Morris
2-5
Second-Half Stampede Lifts Bison Men Past Robert Morris, 60-45
12/7/2004 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 7, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Chris McNaughton scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half, including 11 in a row during a decisive 14-2 run, helping Bucknell to a 60-45 victory over Robert Morris on Tuesday at Sojka Pavilion. The Bison also used smothering defense to improve to 5-4 on the season heading into an 11-day layoff for final exams.
Kevin Bettencourt added 10 points, all in the second half, while Charles Lee had nine points and eight rebounds for the Bison. Chaz McCrommon had 15 for Robert Morris (2-5), Maurice Carter had 13 and Mark Anderson 10 points and 10 rebounds, but the rest of the Colonials roster combined for only seven points.
Both teams shot under 30 percent in a first half filled with numerous missed layups, and Bucknell settled for a 20-19 halftime lead. The lead changed hands five times in the first five minutes of the second half, before the Bison finally gathered some breathing room with three consecutive 3-pointers. John Griffin's trey gave Bucknell a 31-30 lead with 13:35 to play, and Bettencourt hit two in succession to make it 37-30, marking the first time all night either team led by more than three points.
The 3-pointers opened things up for McNaughton, who had a frustrating first half with only one field goal in five attempts, all from point-blank range. But McNaughton found the touch at the right time, single-handedly outscoring Robert Morris 11-4 over a four-minute span. His 3-point play at the 7:59 mark, coming on Bucknell's fourth shot of the possession, opened up a 46-36 lead.
Charles Lee made one of two free throws, then freshman forward Darren Mastropaolo, who assisted on three McNaughton baskets in the second half, put back the missed second shot for a 51-36 lead. Lee capped the surge with two more free throws and a slashing layup to make it 55-36 with 5:20 left.
Robert Morris went nearly five minutes without a field goal while Bucknell broke away, and the Colonials shot just 32.0 percent for the game. Bucknell forced them into numerous contested shots as the shot clock dwindled, and Robert Morris missed all 10 second-half 3-point attempts and made only 3 of 19 in the game.
Neither team could get anything to fall in the opening half. In fact, only once did a team convert consecutive field goals. That came 17 minutes into the game when Tarik Viaer-McClymont tipped in a Bettencourt miss and Donald Brown had a thunderous follow-up jam off another off-the-mark shot. The Bison trailed 3-0 until Lee's fastbreak layup 5:09 into the game.
Carter drained three 3-pointers in the first half to keep the Colonials close, but they shot just 7 of 24 (.292) in the opening 20 minutes.
Bucknell shot only 27.6 percent in the first half, but rallied to make 15 of 28 (.538) in the second stanza. Griffin made 3 of 4 shots, all 3-pointers, and scored nine points. Point guard Abe Badmus was held to just two points but added five assists and two steals. Mastropaolo had a terrific eight minutes of action, logging two points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal.
Bucknell outrebounded Robert Morris 44-30, with 17 boards coming at the offensive end.
After breaking for final exams, the Bison return to action on Dec. 18 at Cornell at 2 p.m.
