Bucknell University Athletics
Blue Team Edges Orange in 2009 Men's Basketball Alumni Game
1/25/2009 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Behind a team-high 15 points from Steve Oristaglio, the Blue team topped the Orange team, 72-71, in the 2009 men's basketball alumni game in Sojka Pavilion on Saturday afternoon. Holland Mack '06 put up a 12-foot jumper for the Orange as time expired, but it rimmed out giving the Blue squad the win in one of the tightest alumni games in recent years.
Nineteen alumni returned to play in the contest, including former Bucknell head coach Pat Flannery '80, who was recognized during Bucknell's game with Colgate Saturday evening for his many accomplishments and contributions to the Bison program during his 14-year tenure as head coach. Flannery, who handed out several assists and sank a pair of free throws, was a member of the winning Blue team, which received a solid offensive effort from recent graduates Darren Mastropaolo '08 (14 points) and Rob Thomas `08 (13 points).
Dave Steigerwald '96 finished with 10 points, giving the Blue squad four players in double figures. Dan Blankenship '03 just missed joining that group, tallying nine points in the win. Radio color commentator Ed Sigl '84 scored six points, while Karl Heiner '65, the oldest player in the contest, canned a three pointer to dot the scoring column. Erich Picht '77 also played for the winners, but did not score in the contest.
The Orange team, which at one point led by as many as seven points, received a stellar effort from Mack who led all scorers in the game for the second consecutive year with 18 points. Joining him in double figures were a pair of standouts from Bucknell's 1987 NCAA Tournament team, Chris Seneca '87 (15 points) and Mark Allsteadt '87 (10 points).
Chris Niesz '05 (7 pts), Andrew Morrison '08 (6 pts), Mike Hepburn '80 (6 pts), Grant Tormey '89 (5 pts), Doug Allen '88 (2 pts) and Len Klebanoff '79 (2 pts) rounded out the scoring column for the Orange squad. Harvey Edward '78 and Tris Carlisle '89 played as well.
Other alumni and program members in attendance, but not participating in the game, included Chuck Carroll `68, Steve Reddy '76, Phil Brady '77, Rick Constable `84, Tim Owen '84, Mark Lezanic '86 and John Watson '89.
Former assistant coach Terry Conrad, now a manager of athletics fundraising here at Bucknell, donned the stripes and helped to officiate the contest. Following the game, the alumni enjoyed a reception in one of the suites in Sojka Pavilion before returning for dinner in the same suite and the Colgate game that evening.
