Saturday, November 12
Lewisburg, Pa.
4 p.m.
Bucknell University
68
vs
50
Niagara
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Men's Basketball Improves to 2-0 With 68-50 Win Over Niagara
11/12/2022 6:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Alex Timmerman recorded his third career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Andre Screen led four Bison in double figures with 15 points on 7-for-10 shooting to pace the Bucknell men's basketball team in a 68-50 victory over Niagara Saturday evening at Sojka Pavilion. The Bison shot 57 percent from the field in a big second half and improved to 2-0 on the season.
Bucknell led 27-23 at halftime and outscored the Purple Eagles 41-27 in the second half. The Bison led by as many as 19 points and finished the game shooting 50 percent (27 of 54) from the floor. After matching a school record with 21 made 3-pointers in a 113-52 win over Lebanon Valley on Monday, Bucknell pounded the ball inside in this one to the tune of a 40-20 edge in points in the paint. The Bison did hit seven threes in 15 attempts, including 6-for-11 in the second half as the inside game opened things up on the perimeter a bit more as the game progressed.
Xander Rice scored 14 points for Bucknell, while Elvin Edmonds IV totaled 12, all in the second half.
Niagara, which dropped its season opener at Maryland on Monday, was led by 12 points from Noah Thomasson. The Purple Eagles shot 19-for-49 (38.8 percent) from the field.
The Bison were 1-for-4 from the arc in the first half compared to Niagara's 5-for-14, which was also a turnaround for the Purple Eagles after they did not hit any threes in the Maryland game. But about six minutes into the second half, Jake van der Heijden hit two threes and Josh Adoh splashed another in a three-possession span to help the Bison open up their first double-digit lead at 44-34.
Rice, who led all players with four steals, turned two takeaways into fastbreak points that helped put the game away. His steal and dish to Edmonds made it 54-41 with 6:51 left, and then a minute later Rice deflected a pass into the arms of Adoh, who took it coast-to-coast to stretch the margin to 17 at 59-42 with 5:54 to play.
The largest lead came at 68-49 after Motta's pull-up jumper with 2:12 to go.
Bucknell turned 12 Niagara turnovers into 17 points, and the Bison finished with a 34-26 rebounding advantage.
Bucknell is now 2-0 for the first time since 2012-13, when the Bison defeated Purdue and George Mason on the way to a 5-0 start. That season was also the last time Bucknell and Niagara squared off, and Bucknell has now won the last four to level the all-time series at 5-5.
The win came on Alumni Day at Sojka Pavilion, and at halftime the Bison honored Patrick Behan '10 and his fight against ALS. Behan was surrounded by many of his former teammates and coaches, including Stephen Tyree, who addressed the crowd on his behalf. Several others, including Oklahoma City Thunder Mike Muscala, sent video messages that were played on the Sojka Pavilion video boards.
The Bison will be on the road for the first time on Tuesday at Saint Peter's. Game time is 7 p.m. in Jersey City.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE:
Bucknell led 27-23 at halftime and outscored the Purple Eagles 41-27 in the second half. The Bison led by as many as 19 points and finished the game shooting 50 percent (27 of 54) from the floor. After matching a school record with 21 made 3-pointers in a 113-52 win over Lebanon Valley on Monday, Bucknell pounded the ball inside in this one to the tune of a 40-20 edge in points in the paint. The Bison did hit seven threes in 15 attempts, including 6-for-11 in the second half as the inside game opened things up on the perimeter a bit more as the game progressed.
Xander Rice scored 14 points for Bucknell, while Elvin Edmonds IV totaled 12, all in the second half.
Niagara, which dropped its season opener at Maryland on Monday, was led by 12 points from Noah Thomasson. The Purple Eagles shot 19-for-49 (38.8 percent) from the field.
The Bison were 1-for-4 from the arc in the first half compared to Niagara's 5-for-14, which was also a turnaround for the Purple Eagles after they did not hit any threes in the Maryland game. But about six minutes into the second half, Jake van der Heijden hit two threes and Josh Adoh splashed another in a three-possession span to help the Bison open up their first double-digit lead at 44-34.
Rice, who led all players with four steals, turned two takeaways into fastbreak points that helped put the game away. His steal and dish to Edmonds made it 54-41 with 6:51 left, and then a minute later Rice deflected a pass into the arms of Adoh, who took it coast-to-coast to stretch the margin to 17 at 59-42 with 5:54 to play.
Xander with the steal, Elvin with the finish! Bison have their largest lead with 7:00 to go. #rayBucknell
— Bucknell MBasketball (@Bucknell_MBB) November 12, 2022
Watch: https://t.co/WTkuj2EmtJ@PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/bYusw0VtcF
We're back for another Locker Room Exclusive! Time to keep it rollin' 🦬🤘#TheBisonWay | #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/rSkDSK4n2d
— Bucknell MBasketball (@Bucknell_MBB) November 13, 2022
The largest lead came at 68-49 after Motta's pull-up jumper with 2:12 to go.
Bucknell turned 12 Niagara turnovers into 17 points, and the Bison finished with a 34-26 rebounding advantage.
Bucknell is now 2-0 for the first time since 2012-13, when the Bison defeated Purdue and George Mason on the way to a 5-0 start. That season was also the last time Bucknell and Niagara squared off, and Bucknell has now won the last four to level the all-time series at 5-5.
The win came on Alumni Day at Sojka Pavilion, and at halftime the Bison honored Patrick Behan '10 and his fight against ALS. Behan was surrounded by many of his former teammates and coaches, including Stephen Tyree, who addressed the crowd on his behalf. Several others, including Oklahoma City Thunder Mike Muscala, sent video messages that were played on the Sojka Pavilion video boards.
The Bison will be on the road for the first time on Tuesday at Saint Peter's. Game time is 7 p.m. in Jersey City.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE:
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
F
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