Saturday, January 20
Easton, Pa.
2 p.m.
Bucknell University
6-13,3-3Patriot
72
at
75
Lafayette
7-12,6-0Patriot
1
2
OT 1
F
Bucknell
36
28
8
72
Lafayette
23
41
11
75
Lafayette's Multiple Rallies Stun Bison Men, 75-72 in Overtime
1/20/2024 4:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EASTON, Pa. – Patriot League-leading Lafayette rallied three different times in the second half and overtime to stun Bucknell 75-72 on Saturday afternoon at Kirby Sports Center. The heartbreaker spoiled a career game from sophomore center Noah Williamson, who finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds, and a milestone day from senior Jack Forrest, who recorded his 1,000th career point and finished with 15.
The Bison jumped out to a 16-3 advantage and led by as many as 16 early in the second half. Lafayette used a 22-4 run to take its first lead of the day, but the Bison struck back to go ahead by five with 20 seconds left. Two missed free throws followed by an Eric Sondberg 3-pointer sent it to overtime, where the Bison appeared to be in good shape after Forrest's fadeaway in the lane gave them a 72-66 lead. But Lafayette scored the game's final nine points, with the last five coming at the foul line. Bucknell had two good looks at 3-pointers in the closing seconds, but neither fell, and the Bison came up short despite holding the lead for 41:00 compared to Lafayette's 0:47.
This was the fifth overtime meeting in the last six games between the Bison and Leopards. Lafayette, which was led by 16 points from Mark Butler and 15 and eight rebounds from Kyle Jenkins, remained in sole possession of first place in the Patriot League at 6-0. The Bison fell to 3-3, alternating wins and losses throughout the start of conference play.
Bucknell played without starting guard Josh Bascoe due to injury, but freshman Brandon McCreesh filled the gap with a career-high 10 points on perfect shooting (3-3 FG, 2-2 3FG, 2-2 FT). Elvin Edmonds IV added 13 points.
McCreesh's two clutch free throws gave Bucknell a 64-59 lead with 20.4 seconds remaining in regulation. Butler drove for a bucket with 12 seconds left and Lafayette fouled Edmonds on the inbounds. Edmonds was a perfect 12-for-12 from the foul line in the final five minutes of games this season, but he came up empty on a pair, and then Sondberg swished a 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds remaining.
Bucknell called a timeout in the frontcourt but a pass into Williamson in the lane was broken up, forcing overtime.
Forrest opened the OT scoring with a free throw, giving him his 1,000th point, and then Edmonds followed with a 3-pointer from the right corner to make it 68-64. After Jenkins scored at the other end, Williamson and Forrest hit back-to-back buckets for a 72-66 lead with 2:21 to go.
Those would be Bucknell's last points of the game, however. Justin Vander Baan and Butler scored to make it a two-point game, and after Bijiek's three attempt rimmed out, the Bison fouled Luke Rasmussen on a 3-pointer in the left corner. The freshman made all three with 27 seconds left to put Lafayette in front 73-72.
The Bison went to Forrest, the Patriot League scoring leader, but he had two shots smothered in traffic in the lane. Ryan Pettit grabbed the rebound and hit two free throws with 10 seconds left. Forrest and Edmonds both had good looks from the arc in the final seconds but both attempts rimmed out.
Bucknell outrebounded Lafayette 44-31, with Williamson's 16 rebounds the most by a Bison since Nate Sestina had 17 against Army in 2019. Bucknell shot 41.3 percent against the league's top-ranked defensive team and went 8-for-21 from downtown.
Lafayette shot 42.9 percent, including 7-for-26 from deep. After hitting at a 32.1 percent clip in the first half, the Leopards were 18-for-35 in the second half and overtime.
Bucknell jumped out to a quick 16-3 lead after only 4:55 of play. Edmonds hit two 3-pointers, and Williamson and McCreesh one each in that run. Bucknell's first six field goals came from five different players.
Lafayette crept within eight on a couple of occasions later in the half, but the Bison came up with plenty of stops and took a 36-23 lead to the locker room.
Bucknell started the second half with two defensive stands, and then Forrest hit his first 3-pointer of the night to stretch the margin to 16. Williamson powered through Vander Baan for two to make it 44-28, but the Bison managed only two more field goals over the next 10-plus minutes as Lafayette embarked on a 22-4 run to take the lead for the first time all day.
Vander Baan's free throws put Lafayette in front 50-48 with 5:56 left, but the Bison had a response. Williamson tied it with a tough hook on the baseline, and Bijiek followed with two free throws. Williamson later made both ends of a 1-and-1, and Edmonds drove to the glass for two to give the Bison a 58-53 lead with 3:03 left, but the Leopards would rally twice more.
Bucknell returns home on Wednesday to face Navy, which improved to 4-2 in the Patriot League after beating service academy rival Army 57-53 on Saturday.
The Bison jumped out to a 16-3 advantage and led by as many as 16 early in the second half. Lafayette used a 22-4 run to take its first lead of the day, but the Bison struck back to go ahead by five with 20 seconds left. Two missed free throws followed by an Eric Sondberg 3-pointer sent it to overtime, where the Bison appeared to be in good shape after Forrest's fadeaway in the lane gave them a 72-66 lead. But Lafayette scored the game's final nine points, with the last five coming at the foul line. Bucknell had two good looks at 3-pointers in the closing seconds, but neither fell, and the Bison came up short despite holding the lead for 41:00 compared to Lafayette's 0:47.
This was the fifth overtime meeting in the last six games between the Bison and Leopards. Lafayette, which was led by 16 points from Mark Butler and 15 and eight rebounds from Kyle Jenkins, remained in sole possession of first place in the Patriot League at 6-0. The Bison fell to 3-3, alternating wins and losses throughout the start of conference play.
Bucknell played without starting guard Josh Bascoe due to injury, but freshman Brandon McCreesh filled the gap with a career-high 10 points on perfect shooting (3-3 FG, 2-2 3FG, 2-2 FT). Elvin Edmonds IV added 13 points.
The lane opened up, and the big man knew what to do! Noah has nine points and the Bison remain in front. #rayBucknell
— Bucknell MBasketball (@Bucknell_MBB) January 20, 2024
Watch: https://t.co/Nsm9Ms9CT9@PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/UdxDPFPVvU
McCreesh's two clutch free throws gave Bucknell a 64-59 lead with 20.4 seconds remaining in regulation. Butler drove for a bucket with 12 seconds left and Lafayette fouled Edmonds on the inbounds. Edmonds was a perfect 12-for-12 from the foul line in the final five minutes of games this season, but he came up empty on a pair, and then Sondberg swished a 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds remaining.
Bucknell called a timeout in the frontcourt but a pass into Williamson in the lane was broken up, forcing overtime.
Forrest opened the OT scoring with a free throw, giving him his 1,000th point, and then Edmonds followed with a 3-pointer from the right corner to make it 68-64. After Jenkins scored at the other end, Williamson and Forrest hit back-to-back buckets for a 72-66 lead with 2:21 to go.
Those would be Bucknell's last points of the game, however. Justin Vander Baan and Butler scored to make it a two-point game, and after Bijiek's three attempt rimmed out, the Bison fouled Luke Rasmussen on a 3-pointer in the left corner. The freshman made all three with 27 seconds left to put Lafayette in front 73-72.
The Bison went to Forrest, the Patriot League scoring leader, but he had two shots smothered in traffic in the lane. Ryan Pettit grabbed the rebound and hit two free throws with 10 seconds left. Forrest and Edmonds both had good looks from the arc in the final seconds but both attempts rimmed out.
Jack opens the OT scoring with a FT, giving him 1,000 career points! Congrats Jack! pic.twitter.com/Barw9alkq2
— Bucknell MBasketball (@Bucknell_MBB) January 20, 2024
Bucknell outrebounded Lafayette 44-31, with Williamson's 16 rebounds the most by a Bison since Nate Sestina had 17 against Army in 2019. Bucknell shot 41.3 percent against the league's top-ranked defensive team and went 8-for-21 from downtown.
Lafayette shot 42.9 percent, including 7-for-26 from deep. After hitting at a 32.1 percent clip in the first half, the Leopards were 18-for-35 in the second half and overtime.
Bucknell jumped out to a quick 16-3 lead after only 4:55 of play. Edmonds hit two 3-pointers, and Williamson and McCreesh one each in that run. Bucknell's first six field goals came from five different players.
Lafayette crept within eight on a couple of occasions later in the half, but the Bison came up with plenty of stops and took a 36-23 lead to the locker room.
Bucknell started the second half with two defensive stands, and then Forrest hit his first 3-pointer of the night to stretch the margin to 16. Williamson powered through Vander Baan for two to make it 44-28, but the Bison managed only two more field goals over the next 10-plus minutes as Lafayette embarked on a 22-4 run to take the lead for the first time all day.
Vander Baan's free throws put Lafayette in front 50-48 with 5:56 left, but the Bison had a response. Williamson tied it with a tough hook on the baseline, and Bijiek followed with two free throws. Williamson later made both ends of a 1-and-1, and Edmonds drove to the glass for two to give the Bison a 58-53 lead with 3:03 left, but the Leopards would rally twice more.
Bucknell returns home on Wednesday to face Navy, which improved to 4-2 in the Patriot League after beating service academy rival Army 57-53 on Saturday.
Team Stats
Buck
Laf
FG%
.413
.429
3FG%
.381
.269
FT%
.750
.824
RB
44
31
TO
12
8
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
10
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
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