Sunday, January 3
Lewisburg, Pa.
6 p.m.
Bucknell University
0-2,0-2Patriot
60
vs
63
Navy
5-1,2-0Patriot
1
2
F
Navy
26
37
63
Bucknell
20
40
60
Photo by: Phil Inglis
Navy Answers Bucknell’s Rally with Late Shot to Stun Bison 63-60 in Home Opener
1/3/2021 8:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Moments after Paul Newman's 3-point play gave Bucknell a one-point lead with 11 seconds left, Navy's Cam Davis hit a go-ahead jumper with five ticks remaining and then added two free throws to seal a 63-60 victory for the Midshipmen on Sunday evening at Sojka Pavilion.
Navy (5-1, 2-0 PL) took both games from the Bison (0-2, 0-2 PL) in the opening weekend of Patriot League play after winning 78-69 on Saturday in Annapolis.
As snow fell outside Sojka Pavilion, Bucknell's shooting was just as frosty inside, as the Bison just could not get anything to drop from the perimeter all night long. But even though they trailed for more than 35 minutes and by as many as 12 with 9:28 remaining, the Bison hung around thanks to some solid defense and terrific free-throw shooting.
Down 59-57 after Austin Inge split a pair at the line with 0:25 remaining, the Bison went inside to the senior Newman, who powered his way through two defenders for a layup and a foul. After a timeout, Newman hit the free throw for a 60-59 lead.
Davis, who also hit a late game-winner for Navy at Sojka Pavilion last season, pushed the ball up the floor and pulled up just inside the foul line to give the lead back to the Midshipmen. Freshman Deuce Turner, who had a strong night with 15 points, rushed a shot from beyond half court that fell short, and Davis added two free throws with 0.8 seconds left. Richard Njoku batted the Bison's final inbound pass out of play, sealing the Midshipmen victory.
Davis scored a game-high 18 points, 16 coming in the second half. In addition to Turner's 15 points, fellow rookie Andre Screen tallied 11 points and seven rebounds.
It was a tough shooting night from the field for both teams. The Bison shot 17-for-53 (32.1%), including 2-for-19 (10.5%) from beyond the arc. The team did make an impressive 24-of-26 (91.3%) from the foul line. Navy was 23-for-64 from the field (35.9%) and 6-for-22 from three (27.3%), though they were 4-for-9 from three in the second half. Navy was only 11-for-20 at the free throw line, but made seven of its last nine attempts.
Both teams missed their first six shots of the game, but it was Navy piecing together the first run. Threes from Inge and John Carter Jr. gave the Midshipmen an early 13-4 lead. Bucknell was 0-for-6 from the arc and trailed 19-10 when Andrew Funk got a 3-pointer to drop in transition. That ignited a 10-0 Bison run, as Screen followed with a dunk and a layup and Ellis finished a 3-point play for a 20-19 lead with 3:15 left in the half.
But just as Bucknell went on top for the first time, Navy ended a 4:50 scoreless drought with a Tyler Nelson put-back. The Midshipmen scored the final seven of the half to go up 26-20 at the break, and then scored the first five of the second stanza, with Davis' 3-pointer giving them a 31-20 cushion.
Navy's largest lead was a dozen at 48-36 after a Davis jumper with a toe on the line with 9:28 to play, but the Bison pieced together enough defensive stops and free throws to remain engaged.
With nothing falling from the outside, Bucknell relentlessly attacked the basket. The Bison went 21-for-23 from the foul line in the second half alone. Turner went 9-for-9, and when he hit all three after being fouled on a 3-point attempt with 7:52 left, Bucknell's deficit was just five at 48-43.
It was still a five-point margin at 58-53 when Newman and Xander Rice canned four straight at the line to make it a one-point game. Turner then came up with his third steal of the game, but he came up short on a pull-up jumper. The Bison fouled Inge on the rebound, but he only made 1 of 2 at the line, setting up Newman's clutch shot at the other end.
"For the second straight day we are left thinking we let a game that we could have won get away," said head coach Nathan Davis. "We need to value every possession and play smart, it's that simple. It's on us as coaches to continue to instill that mentality. Yes we have some inexperienced guys in there, but at times we just have to get out of our own way and give ourselves a chance. We are definitely capable of doing it, but it's a shorter season and there are only 14 games left."
Bucknell's next game is on Saturday, Jan. 9, against Lafayette. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at Sojka Pavilion, with coverage on ESPN+.
Navy (5-1, 2-0 PL) took both games from the Bison (0-2, 0-2 PL) in the opening weekend of Patriot League play after winning 78-69 on Saturday in Annapolis.
As snow fell outside Sojka Pavilion, Bucknell's shooting was just as frosty inside, as the Bison just could not get anything to drop from the perimeter all night long. But even though they trailed for more than 35 minutes and by as many as 12 with 9:28 remaining, the Bison hung around thanks to some solid defense and terrific free-throw shooting.
Down 59-57 after Austin Inge split a pair at the line with 0:25 remaining, the Bison went inside to the senior Newman, who powered his way through two defenders for a layup and a foul. After a timeout, Newman hit the free throw for a 60-59 lead.
Davis, who also hit a late game-winner for Navy at Sojka Pavilion last season, pushed the ball up the floor and pulled up just inside the foul line to give the lead back to the Midshipmen. Freshman Deuce Turner, who had a strong night with 15 points, rushed a shot from beyond half court that fell short, and Davis added two free throws with 0.8 seconds left. Richard Njoku batted the Bison's final inbound pass out of play, sealing the Midshipmen victory.
Davis scored a game-high 18 points, 16 coming in the second half. In addition to Turner's 15 points, fellow rookie Andre Screen tallied 11 points and seven rebounds.
It was a tough shooting night from the field for both teams. The Bison shot 17-for-53 (32.1%), including 2-for-19 (10.5%) from beyond the arc. The team did make an impressive 24-of-26 (91.3%) from the foul line. Navy was 23-for-64 from the field (35.9%) and 6-for-22 from three (27.3%), though they were 4-for-9 from three in the second half. Navy was only 11-for-20 at the free throw line, but made seven of its last nine attempts.
Both teams missed their first six shots of the game, but it was Navy piecing together the first run. Threes from Inge and John Carter Jr. gave the Midshipmen an early 13-4 lead. Bucknell was 0-for-6 from the arc and trailed 19-10 when Andrew Funk got a 3-pointer to drop in transition. That ignited a 10-0 Bison run, as Screen followed with a dunk and a layup and Ellis finished a 3-point play for a 20-19 lead with 3:15 left in the half.
But just as Bucknell went on top for the first time, Navy ended a 4:50 scoreless drought with a Tyler Nelson put-back. The Midshipmen scored the final seven of the half to go up 26-20 at the break, and then scored the first five of the second stanza, with Davis' 3-pointer giving them a 31-20 cushion.
Navy's largest lead was a dozen at 48-36 after a Davis jumper with a toe on the line with 9:28 to play, but the Bison pieced together enough defensive stops and free throws to remain engaged.
With nothing falling from the outside, Bucknell relentlessly attacked the basket. The Bison went 21-for-23 from the foul line in the second half alone. Turner went 9-for-9, and when he hit all three after being fouled on a 3-point attempt with 7:52 left, Bucknell's deficit was just five at 48-43.
It was still a five-point margin at 58-53 when Newman and Xander Rice canned four straight at the line to make it a one-point game. Turner then came up with his third steal of the game, but he came up short on a pull-up jumper. The Bison fouled Inge on the rebound, but he only made 1 of 2 at the line, setting up Newman's clutch shot at the other end.
"For the second straight day we are left thinking we let a game that we could have won get away," said head coach Nathan Davis. "We need to value every possession and play smart, it's that simple. It's on us as coaches to continue to instill that mentality. Yes we have some inexperienced guys in there, but at times we just have to get out of our own way and give ourselves a chance. We are definitely capable of doing it, but it's a shorter season and there are only 14 games left."
Bucknell's next game is on Saturday, Jan. 9, against Lafayette. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at Sojka Pavilion, with coverage on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Navy
Buck
FG%
.359
.321
3FG%
.273
.105
FT%
.550
.923
RB
41
39
TO
10
14
STL
5
7
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
9
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
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