Wednesday, January 30
Lewisburg, Pa.
7 p.m.
Bucknell University
69
vs
57
Navy
Photo by: Sam Miller
Bucknell Defense, Bench Key in 69-57 Win over Navy
1/30/2019 9:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Bison remain in share of Patriot League lead with Lehigh
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Kimbal Mackenzie and Avi Toomer scored 14 points apiece and combined for six of Bucknell's eight made 3-pointers to lead the Bison men's basketball team to a 69-57 home victory over Navy Wednesday evening at Sojka Pavilion. Bucknell (13-8, 7-2 PL) used a 9-0 run in the first half to open up a double-figure lead and never let the Mids (6-14, 3-6 PL) draw closer than eight the rest of the way.
Bucknell remains in a tie for first place in the Patriot League, but it is now a two-team deadlock with Lehigh. Army West Point began the night in a share of the lead but fell at Colgate, while Lehigh held off Lafayette in overtime to join the Bison at 7-2.
The Bison led 36-21 at halftime and stretched their lead to as many as 18 points in the second half, and they limited Navy to 31.7 percent shooting on the night (3-22 from 3-point range).
"I thought we came out with good focus and good purpose in what we were trying to do," said head coach Nathan Davis. "We were getting good shots and getting stops to take control of the game early. We were able to make enough plays to win the game, which is what it's all about."
On a night when Bucknell played without injured point guard Jimmy Sotos, and three other starters missed most of the first half with foul trouble, the Bison bench played a big role in the victory. The reserves contributed 20 of the team's 36 first-half points, and they accounted for 26 points, 18 rebounds and six assists on the night. All 10 Bucknell players who saw action in the game scored a point.
Walter Ellis and Paul Newman each had a team-high seven rebounds in 20-plus minutes off the bench. Newman also had eight points and three blocked shots. John Meeks added nine points, and Ben Robertson five, including his first 3-pointer of the season.
Bucknell did not have its best shooting night either, finishing at 37.9 percent overall and 8-for-34 from the arc, but the Bison did hit 14 of 24 2-point attempts and 17 of 24 from the free-throw line.
Navy led only once in the game at 2-0. Toomer's 3-point play snapped a 4-4 tie, and the Bison went on to lead for the game's final 37:28. It was an 18-13 game when Newman's layup ignited that key 9-0 spurt. Andrew Funk spun in the lane for a layup, and then Robertson's trey from the top of the key pushed the lead into double figures for the first time at 25-13. Meeks capped the run with a short jumper.
Newman's bank shot with three seconds left in the half gave the Bison a 36-21 lead at the break.
Navy pulled within 11 in the second stanza after a steal and breakaway layup from Hasan Abdullah with 15:42 to go, but Meeks answered with a 3-pointer. Navy cut the margin to 11 one more time at 55-44, but again it was Meeks with a big momentum-shifting play, this time rebounding a missed 3-pointer and sticking it back to start a 7-1 run.
Toomer, who joined starters Nate Sestina and Bruce Moore in the bench with two quick fouls in the first half, got going with eight straight Bucknell points later in the second half. His 3-pointer, followed by two Sestina free throws, gave the Bison a comfortable 67-49 edge with 2:31 to go.
Sestina, Bucknell's leading scorer at 15.8 points per game, had eight points in just 15 minutes, hitting all three of his field-goal attempts and both free-throw tries.
The win was Bucknell's 15th in a row at home against Patriot League competition, including a 5-0 mark this season. The Bison have now won 11 straight and 19 of the last 20 against Navy.
George Kiernan led Navy with 12 points, followed by Evan Wieck with 12. Abdullah had a good all-around game with eight points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals.
Bucknell returns to action on Saturday at Lafayette at 2 p.m.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE:
(1/30/2019) Men's Basketball vs. Navy
Bucknell remains in a tie for first place in the Patriot League, but it is now a two-team deadlock with Lehigh. Army West Point began the night in a share of the lead but fell at Colgate, while Lehigh held off Lafayette in overtime to join the Bison at 7-2.
The Bison led 36-21 at halftime and stretched their lead to as many as 18 points in the second half, and they limited Navy to 31.7 percent shooting on the night (3-22 from 3-point range).
"I thought we came out with good focus and good purpose in what we were trying to do," said head coach Nathan Davis. "We were getting good shots and getting stops to take control of the game early. We were able to make enough plays to win the game, which is what it's all about."
On a night when Bucknell played without injured point guard Jimmy Sotos, and three other starters missed most of the first half with foul trouble, the Bison bench played a big role in the victory. The reserves contributed 20 of the team's 36 first-half points, and they accounted for 26 points, 18 rebounds and six assists on the night. All 10 Bucknell players who saw action in the game scored a point.
Walter Ellis and Paul Newman each had a team-high seven rebounds in 20-plus minutes off the bench. Newman also had eight points and three blocked shots. John Meeks added nine points, and Ben Robertson five, including his first 3-pointer of the season.
Bucknell did not have its best shooting night either, finishing at 37.9 percent overall and 8-for-34 from the arc, but the Bison did hit 14 of 24 2-point attempts and 17 of 24 from the free-throw line.
Navy led only once in the game at 2-0. Toomer's 3-point play snapped a 4-4 tie, and the Bison went on to lead for the game's final 37:28. It was an 18-13 game when Newman's layup ignited that key 9-0 spurt. Andrew Funk spun in the lane for a layup, and then Robertson's trey from the top of the key pushed the lead into double figures for the first time at 25-13. Meeks capped the run with a short jumper.
Newman's bank shot with three seconds left in the half gave the Bison a 36-21 lead at the break.
Navy pulled within 11 in the second stanza after a steal and breakaway layup from Hasan Abdullah with 15:42 to go, but Meeks answered with a 3-pointer. Navy cut the margin to 11 one more time at 55-44, but again it was Meeks with a big momentum-shifting play, this time rebounding a missed 3-pointer and sticking it back to start a 7-1 run.
Toomer, who joined starters Nate Sestina and Bruce Moore in the bench with two quick fouls in the first half, got going with eight straight Bucknell points later in the second half. His 3-pointer, followed by two Sestina free throws, gave the Bison a comfortable 67-49 edge with 2:31 to go.
Sestina, Bucknell's leading scorer at 15.8 points per game, had eight points in just 15 minutes, hitting all three of his field-goal attempts and both free-throw tries.
The win was Bucknell's 15th in a row at home against Patriot League competition, including a 5-0 mark this season. The Bison have now won 11 straight and 19 of the last 20 against Navy.
George Kiernan led Navy with 12 points, followed by Evan Wieck with 12. Abdullah had a good all-around game with eight points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals.
Bucknell returns to action on Saturday at Lafayette at 2 p.m.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE:
PHOTO GALLERY:
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