Bucknell University
13-3, 4-0PL
Lafayette
8-9, 2-2PL
Bucknell Men Author Another Defensive Gem in 62-32 Win over Lafayette
1/18/2006 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 18, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Kevin Bettencourt scored 16 of his game-high 19 points in the first half and added five steals to lead another stellar Bucknell defensive effort in a 62-32 victory over Lafayette Wednesday night at Sojka Pavilion. The Bison, now 13-3 overall, improved to 4-0 in Patriot League play, where they are now allowing only 44.0 points per game.
After yielding only 42 points to Holy Cross in a 14-point win on Saturday, the Bison forced Lafayette (8-9, 2-2) to miss 37 of 48 shots from the field and commit 27 turnovers. The Leopards came into the game ranked second in the league in scoring offense at 70.2 points per game, and they had topped the 80-point mark in two of their first three league contests.
Lafayette's 32 points and .229 field-goal percentage are both the second-lowest marks in Sojka Pavilion history. Army scored 25 points and shot 17.8 percent in a 75-25 loss to Bucknell on Feb. 22, 2004. Bucknell held the Leopards to their lowest point total since a 57-31 loss to CCNY on March 4, 1948.
The game was reminiscent of last year's Patriot League Tournament quarterfinal game at Sojka Pavilion in which Bucknell defeated Lafayette 70-34. The 30-point margin of victory is tied for Bucknell's most ever against Lafayette in a series that dates back to 1915. It was the fewest points the Bison have allowed against the Leopards since a 43-27 win in 1937.
Both teams struggled offensively in the early going, as the game was tied at 7-7 more than seven minutes into the contest. Bettencourt hit his second of four 3-pointers on the night to give the Bison a 10-7 lead, and that ignited a decisive 17-4 run that put them ahead for good.
Bettencourt and Charles Lee hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to make it 24-11. Andrei Capusan scored inside to end Lafayette's six-minute scoring drought, but in the final seconds of the half, Bettencourt stole an outlet pass and canned a trey at the buzzer to make it 27-13 at intermission.
The Bison quickly extended the lead early in the second stanza. Abe Badmus scored four points in the opening minute to make it 31-13, and Badmus' dunk off a Bettencourt backdoor feed highlighted an 8-0 run that made it 41-18 at the 14:31 mark.
Bucknell later scored 11 points in a row to go up 52-20, and the Bison took their largest lead of 37 points at 59-22 on reserve Rob Thomas' reverse layup with 4:49 left. With two minutes to play, Lafayette was stuck on 24 points, but Kerry Kenny hit three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point try, Andrew Brown made a short jumper and Paul Cummins hit a 3-pointer with 35 seconds left to push the Leopards over the 30-point mark.
Cummins led Lafayette with seven points and three steals, while Capusan scored six points.
Bettencourt was the only Bison in double figures, although 12 different players scratched the scoring column. Lee finished with seven points, six rebounds and four assists, while Donald Brown continued his strong play off the bench with seven points and four rebounds.
Leading scorer Chris McNaughton had a rare off night, finishing with four points on 2 of 8 shooting. McNaughton entered the game ranked 10th nationally in field-goal percentage at 64.5 percent.
Bettencourt moved up one spot into seventh place on Bucknell's career scoring list with 1,369 points.
Bucknell, which has now won 18 straight home games against Patriot League foes, has captured five straight against Lafayette. The Bison return home on Saturday to face Colgate at 7 p.m.
