Wednesday, January 31
Lewisburg, Pa.
7 p.m.
Bucknell University
9-13,6-3Patriot
67
vs
52
Loyola
4-18,2-7Patriot
1
2
F
Loyola Maryland
31
21
52
Bucknell
33
34
67
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Williamson’s Career Night Lifts Bucknell Past Loyola Maryland, 67-52
1/31/2024 8:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NOTE: The next BUCKNELL BASKETBALL LUNCHEON is set for this Thursday at noon at the Bull Run Tap House in Lewisburg. Join head coaches John Griffin III and Trevor Woodruff, along with members of the men's and women's teams, for lunch and discussion about the season.
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Sophomore center Noah Williamson scored a career-high 28 points and the Bison men's basketball team won its third straight game, defeating Loyola Maryland 67-52 on Wednesday night at Sojka Pavilion. The Bison improved to 9-13 overall and reached the midway point of Patriot League play with a 6-3 record, tied for third-best in the league. The Greyhounds are now 4-18 on the season, including 2-7 in conference play.
Williamson scored 18 of Bucknell's 33 points in the first half, closing the stanza with a thunderous driving dunk in the final seconds to give the Bison a 33-31 halftime lead. He hit a jumper on the first possession of the second half to reach 20 points in a game for the fourth time this season. That ignited an 11-2 run to start the half and stretch the Bucknell lead to 44-33. Loyola would cut the lead to six on multiple occasions but get no closer.
In addition to his 28 points, which were the most by a Bison this season, Williamson tacked on eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocked shots, including a critical rejection in the final three minutes with the Bison leading by seven. Ian Motta hit a dagger 3-pointer at the other end to make it a 62-52 game with 2:27 to play, keying a game-ending 9-0 run as Bucknell shut out the Greyhounds for the final 3:50.
Patriot League scoring leader Jack Forrest scored 14 points and added three of Bucknell's 10 steals, while Elvin Edmonds IV added eight points and five assists. Perry scored 22 points, one more than his average in Patriot League play, and Alonso Faure contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Greyhounds.
The game got off to a ragged start, with the teams combining for 11 turnovers and 8-for-27 shooting over the first eight minutes. Down 15-13 at the 10-minute mark, Bucknell embarked on a 12-3 run keyed by 3-pointers from Williamson and Forrest. The Bison never again trailed, although Loyola tied the game briefly at 31 on two Perry free throws with 15 seconds left in the half. Williamson's drive and flush just before the buzzer gave his team the lead for good.
The 7'0" center from Latvia finished the night 10-for-15 from the floor, 3-for-5 from the 3-point arc, and 5-for-6 from the foul line. Williamson's 28 points were the most by a Bucknell player since Andrew Funk tallied 34 against Loyola at Sojka Pavilion almost two years ago to the day (Jan. 30, 2022).
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Williamson and Josh Adoh followed by a free throw from Pip Ajayi stretched Bucknell's lead to 44-33 just over five minutes into the second half. Loyola shot right back with a 6-1 run to force Griffin to call a timeout, and coming out of the break Forrest connected from downtown while drawing contact. After his 4-point play, Edmonds skied high to intercept a baseline inbounds pass and raced for a breakaway layup to give the Bison their largest lead at that point at 51-39.
Bucknell went more than five minutes without a field goal, however, and Loyola again pulled within six on a couple of occasions. Golden Dike, just a 33-percent free-throw shooter, made both ends of a 1-and-1 with 4:32 to go, but Williamson did the same at the other end.
Perry, the league's leading foul shooter at just under 90 percent, made two more to cut it to 58-52 with 3:50 remaining. Ruot Bijiek then missed two at the line, but Williamson grabbed the offensive rebound, which led to a free throw for Edmonds. The 6'10" Faure seemed to have a sure layup at the other end but was rejected by Williamson, and then Motta connected on a 3-pointer for a 62-52 lead with 2:27 left.
Defense has been a key for Bucknell during this three-game winning streak. The Bison forced a season-high 19 turnovers and held Loyola to 36.0-percent shooting from the field (4-for-19 from the arc), and they have allowed only 57.0 points over the last three contests. Loyola's 52 points were the fewest by a Bucknell opponent this season.
Bucknell next travels to American on Saturday afternoon in a key battle between upper-division teams. The Bison and Eagles are now tied for third place at 6-3 in the Patriot League, two games behind Colgate and one in back of Lafayette. The Bison have two games of separation in front of fifth-place Navy and Lehigh.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE:
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Sophomore center Noah Williamson scored a career-high 28 points and the Bison men's basketball team won its third straight game, defeating Loyola Maryland 67-52 on Wednesday night at Sojka Pavilion. The Bison improved to 9-13 overall and reached the midway point of Patriot League play with a 6-3 record, tied for third-best in the league. The Greyhounds are now 4-18 on the season, including 2-7 in conference play.
Williamson scored 18 of Bucknell's 33 points in the first half, closing the stanza with a thunderous driving dunk in the final seconds to give the Bison a 33-31 halftime lead. He hit a jumper on the first possession of the second half to reach 20 points in a game for the fourth time this season. That ignited an 11-2 run to start the half and stretch the Bucknell lead to 44-33. Loyola would cut the lead to six on multiple occasions but get no closer.
What a half for Noah Williamson! The big man with the drive and flush on the final possession. He has 18 points, and the Bison are up a deuce at the break. #rayBucknell
— Bucknell MBasketball (@Bucknell_MBB) February 1, 2024
Watch: https://t.co/jfathpodFe@PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/mY2u8oK06n
In addition to his 28 points, which were the most by a Bison this season, Williamson tacked on eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocked shots, including a critical rejection in the final three minutes with the Bison leading by seven. Ian Motta hit a dagger 3-pointer at the other end to make it a 62-52 game with 2:27 to play, keying a game-ending 9-0 run as Bucknell shut out the Greyhounds for the final 3:50.
Patriot League scoring leader Jack Forrest scored 14 points and added three of Bucknell's 10 steals, while Elvin Edmonds IV added eight points and five assists. Perry scored 22 points, one more than his average in Patriot League play, and Alonso Faure contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Greyhounds.
The game got off to a ragged start, with the teams combining for 11 turnovers and 8-for-27 shooting over the first eight minutes. Down 15-13 at the 10-minute mark, Bucknell embarked on a 12-3 run keyed by 3-pointers from Williamson and Forrest. The Bison never again trailed, although Loyola tied the game briefly at 31 on two Perry free throws with 15 seconds left in the half. Williamson's drive and flush just before the buzzer gave his team the lead for good.
The 7'0" center from Latvia finished the night 10-for-15 from the floor, 3-for-5 from the 3-point arc, and 5-for-6 from the foul line. Williamson's 28 points were the most by a Bucknell player since Andrew Funk tallied 34 against Loyola at Sojka Pavilion almost two years ago to the day (Jan. 30, 2022).
It's the Noah Williamson show at Sojka Pavilion! His third 3FG of the night gives him 23 points, matching his career high. Josh Adoh followed with another trey, the Bison are now up 43-33 with 15:41 to go. #rayBucknell
— Bucknell MBasketball (@Bucknell_MBB) February 1, 2024
Watch: https://t.co/jfathpodFe@PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/SrpaKsYCGE
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Williamson and Josh Adoh followed by a free throw from Pip Ajayi stretched Bucknell's lead to 44-33 just over five minutes into the second half. Loyola shot right back with a 6-1 run to force Griffin to call a timeout, and coming out of the break Forrest connected from downtown while drawing contact. After his 4-point play, Edmonds skied high to intercept a baseline inbounds pass and raced for a breakaway layup to give the Bison their largest lead at that point at 51-39.
Bucknell went more than five minutes without a field goal, however, and Loyola again pulled within six on a couple of occasions. Golden Dike, just a 33-percent free-throw shooter, made both ends of a 1-and-1 with 4:32 to go, but Williamson did the same at the other end.
Perry, the league's leading foul shooter at just under 90 percent, made two more to cut it to 58-52 with 3:50 remaining. Ruot Bijiek then missed two at the line, but Williamson grabbed the offensive rebound, which led to a free throw for Edmonds. The 6'10" Faure seemed to have a sure layup at the other end but was rejected by Williamson, and then Motta connected on a 3-pointer for a 62-52 lead with 2:27 left.
Defense has been a key for Bucknell during this three-game winning streak. The Bison forced a season-high 19 turnovers and held Loyola to 36.0-percent shooting from the field (4-for-19 from the arc), and they have allowed only 57.0 points over the last three contests. Loyola's 52 points were the fewest by a Bucknell opponent this season.
Bucknell next travels to American on Saturday afternoon in a key battle between upper-division teams. The Bison and Eagles are now tied for third place at 6-3 in the Patriot League, two games behind Colgate and one in back of Lafayette. The Bison have two games of separation in front of fifth-place Navy and Lehigh.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE:
Team Stats
Loyola
Buck
FG%
.360
.431
3FG%
.211
.375
FT%
.750
.667
RB
33
33
TO
19
14
STL
10
10
Game Leaders
Pts
28
FGM
10
3FGM
3
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Players Mentioned
F
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