Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
Nate Sestina Picked as Bison Athlete of the Week
1/21/2019 3:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Record-setting performance part of 2-0 week for first-place Bison
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Bucknell senior center Nate Sestina earned his second Bison Athlete of the Week honor of the season on Monday after helping the men's basketball team to two more victories and sole possession of first place in the Patriot League.
The Preseason All-Patriot League pick added to an already stellar senior campaign last Monday, when he scored a career-high 32 points on perfect 11-for-11 shooting from the field in a 93-78 home victory over Holy Cross. Sestina, who also went 9-for-10 from the foul line, set the Bucknell record and tied the Patriot League record for most field goals without a miss. Coincidentally, the previous school record of 10-for-10, set by Donald Brown at Lehigh, came exactly 15 years earlier to the day. The only other Patriot League player to go 11-for-11 was Army's Matt Wilson earlier this season against UMass-Lowell.
Sestina's 32 points were not only his personal best, eclipsing his previous high of 27 points at Boston University on Jan. 5, but that mark tied the Sojka Pavilion record for points in a game by a Bucknell player. Chris Hass (vs. Holy Cross in 2015) and Zach Thomas (vs. Army in 2018) also scored 32 points in Sojka.Â
Bucknell followed the Holy Cross win with a big 85-83 road verdict at Lehigh on Saturday. Sestina was limited to 21 minutes due to some foul trouble, but he still managed 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Sestina made his first shot of the day against Lehigh, running his streak to 15 straight makes before a 3-point attempt rimmed out a few minutes later.Â
Sestina is now averaging 16.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 54.4 percent from the field, 46.3 percent from the 3-point arc, and 88.2 percent from the foul line this season. He ranks fifth in the Patriot League in scoring, third in rebounding, second in free-throw percentage, fifth in field-goal percentage, and seventh in 3-point accuracy.Â
Bucknell has won four straight games to improve to 11-7 overall and 5-1 in the Patriot League. The Bison have a one-game lead over Lehigh and Army heading into Wednesday night's home game against Loyola. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at Sojka Pavilion.Â
The Preseason All-Patriot League pick added to an already stellar senior campaign last Monday, when he scored a career-high 32 points on perfect 11-for-11 shooting from the field in a 93-78 home victory over Holy Cross. Sestina, who also went 9-for-10 from the foul line, set the Bucknell record and tied the Patriot League record for most field goals without a miss. Coincidentally, the previous school record of 10-for-10, set by Donald Brown at Lehigh, came exactly 15 years earlier to the day. The only other Patriot League player to go 11-for-11 was Army's Matt Wilson earlier this season against UMass-Lowell.
Sestina's 32 points were not only his personal best, eclipsing his previous high of 27 points at Boston University on Jan. 5, but that mark tied the Sojka Pavilion record for points in a game by a Bucknell player. Chris Hass (vs. Holy Cross in 2015) and Zach Thomas (vs. Army in 2018) also scored 32 points in Sojka.Â
Bucknell followed the Holy Cross win with a big 85-83 road verdict at Lehigh on Saturday. Sestina was limited to 21 minutes due to some foul trouble, but he still managed 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Sestina made his first shot of the day against Lehigh, running his streak to 15 straight makes before a 3-point attempt rimmed out a few minutes later.Â
Sestina is now averaging 16.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 54.4 percent from the field, 46.3 percent from the 3-point arc, and 88.2 percent from the foul line this season. He ranks fifth in the Patriot League in scoring, third in rebounding, second in free-throw percentage, fifth in field-goal percentage, and seventh in 3-point accuracy.Â
Bucknell has won four straight games to improve to 11-7 overall and 5-1 in the Patriot League. The Bison have a one-game lead over Lehigh and Army heading into Wednesday night's home game against Loyola. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at Sojka Pavilion.Â
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