Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
14-12 (9-4)
Navy
9-16 (5-8)
Bison Grind Out 52-51 Win at Navy Behind Frazier's Career Night
2/11/2015 10:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – On a night when Bucknell started three freshmen and struggled mightily offensively for most of the night, it was junior co-captain Ryan Frazier stepping up with a career-high 19 points to lead the Bison to a 52-51 win at Navy on Wednesday night at Alumni Hall. Frazier hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 2:53 to play and then added a critical rebound and three clinching free throws in the final seconds.
Now 14-12 overall and 9-4 in the Patriot League, the Bison won their second straight game on the heels of a two-game losing streak. Colgate also won, 76-69 at Boston University, meaning Bucknell and Colgate will remain in a first-place tie in the Patriot League with five games remaining.
“We really defended well, especially down the stretch,” said head coach Dave Paulsen. “This was a really gratifying win, to get it on the road on a night where we did not play well offensively. It was a big tribute to our leadership. Ryan Frazier put us on his back and really carried us.”
The Bison had a miserable first half offensively, committing nine turnovers while shooting 6-for-25 overall and 0-for-6 from 3-point range. But they trailed by just six at 24-18 at the half thanks to some strong defense. At the other end Navy hit just 9 of 30 attempts from the field and 1 of 7 from the arc.
Bucknell pulled within two points at 27-25 on a pair of Frazier free throws with 15:02 to play, and from that point forward, it was a one-possession game either way until Frazier's free throw put the Bison up 52-48 with 4.2 seconds left.
The Bison took their first lead of the night on Dom Hoffman's 3-point play with 12:51 left, and then the lead would change hands 11 more times the rest of the way.
A reverse layup by Shawn Anderson put Navy on top 44-43 with 3:40 to go, and then Nana Foulland and Frazier teamed up for the biggest sequence of the night. Zach Thomas made a free throw to tie it at 44. He missed the second, but Foulland tipped out the rebound to keep possession alive. Moments later Steven Kaspar skipped a pass to Frazier in the right corner, and Frazier knocked down the tiebreaking trey with 2:53 on the clock.
Navy cut it back to one on an Anderson layup, but Foulland answered with two big free throws with 46.8 seconds left. Anderson scored again on a drive, and then it was Frazier's turn to hit two clutch charity tosses with 19.2 left.
Kendall Knorr's long two-point jumper was off the mark, and Frazier skied for the rebound with 4.2 seconds to go. Frazier hit the second of two free throws to make it a four-point game, and Tillman Dunbar made a three at the buzzer to make the final 52-51.
Despite playing without second-leading rebounder Cory Starkey due to injury, the Bison pulled down 14 offensive rebounds and finished with a 46-36 edge on the glass. They won their fourth road game of the year despite shooting 28.6 percent from the floor and 2-for-12 from the arc. Bucknell hit 22 of 28 (.786) from the foul line, including 16 of 20 in the second half.
“In order to be a championship team, you have to get stops and knock down free throws, and 78 percent from the line is really good on the road,” said Paulsen. “Zach Thomas and Nana Foulland had some big tip-outs to save possessions, and for the most part we were pretty good on the boards.”
Frazier had both of Bucknell's treys and went 11-for-13 from the foul line. He also recorded six rebounds and led a terrific defensive effort. He started out marking Navy guard Zach Fong, who had 10 3-pointers and 39 points in his last two games filling in for the injured Brandon Venturini. Fong was held scoreless in this one before fouling out with 8:26 left. Leading scorer Worth Smith was held to six points on 3-for-16 shooting, offsetting a 2-for-13 night from Bucknell's top scorer Chris Hass.
Navy shot 32.1 percent from the floor and was 2-for-12 from the arc and 13-for-18 from the line. Dunbar scored 13 points and Anderson had 11 for the Midshipmen (9-16, 5-8), which was coming off a big win over arch-rival Army.
Bucknell swept the season series from Navy and snapped a 35-35 tie in the all-time series.
Bucknell will visit another service academy on Sunday, facing Army at 4 p.m. at Christl Arena on CBS Sports Network.
