Saturday, November 16
Lewisburg, Pa.
12 p.m.
Bucknell University
80
vs
76
Richmond
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Men’s Basketball Storms Back to Beat Richmond 80-76 in Double Overtime
11/16/2024 2:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE:
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Noah Williamson scored 22 of his 26 points after halftime to help the Bison dig out of a deep hole and defeat Richmond 80-76 in double overtime on Saturday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion. The Bison trailed by as many as 21 points in the first half and by 18 at intermission, and they even survived Richmond's gut-punch 3-pointer at the buzzer that sent the game to a second overtime.
For the second consecutive game, Bucknell found itself in double overtime, and this time the team emerged victorious, erasing the sour taste of letting a big second-half lead get away on Wednesday against Mount St. Mary's. Now 3-2 on the season, the Bison have already played three OT games and five OT periods in five games.
Williamson, Ruot Bijiek, and Josh Bascoe combined to score 62 points for Bucknell, and the Bison defense held the Spiders to 30.4 percent (14-for-46) shooting across the second half and overtime periods.
Bucknell trailed 37-19 at halftime, but outscored Richmond 42-24 in the second stanza. Williamson took over in the second period, scoring or assisting on 11 of his team's 13 made field goals and blocking four shots. For the game, Williamson finished with a game-high tying 26 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks, and four assists. Bijiek added five rebounds and two steals to his career-high 20 points, and Bascoe finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, and 6 assists in over 45 minutes of game action. Delonnie Hunt led Richmond with 26 points.
Bucknell made its move by attacking the paint to start the second half, and the Bison quickly got back in it. They converted four 3-point plays in the first 8:17 – three from Williamson and one from Brandon McCreesh – and two Achile Spadone free throws cut the deficit to one at 49-48 with 7:45 to go.
Bijiek's 3-pointer off a drive and dish from Williamson gave the Bison a 53-51 lead with 5:40 to go, their first lead since it was 4-3 in the early stages. After Richmond tied it twice, Bascoe fed Williamson for a dunk, and then Bascoe pitched it back to Williamson for a top-of-the key three that gave Bucknell a 60-55 lead with 2:22 left.
A tough foul call on an offensive rebound took away an easy basket and put the Spiders on the foul line, which opened the door for them to tie the game on a Hunt layup with 15 seconds left.
Bucknell never trailed in either of the overtime periods. Bascoe's spinning floater in the lane snapped a 65-all tie. After two Richmond misses, McCreesh split a pair at the line to give the Bison a 68-65 lead. On Richmond's final possession, Hunt missed a three, the long rebound was tipped out near midcourt, and Mikkel Tyne collected it, dribbled to the right wing and flung in an off-balance three at the buzzer.
Undaunted, the Bison scored the first seven points of the second overtime session. After a Williamson layup, a long rebound led to a runout for Spadone and a breakaway foul on the Spiders. Spadone made both free throws, the Bison retained possession, and at the end of the shot clock Ian Motta splashed a 3-pointer from the top of the key for a 75-68 lead.
Richmond did have a possession down three in the final 30 seconds, but Dusan Neskovic was well off the mark on a corner 3-point attempt, and Bascoe hit two free throws to ice it with 11 seconds left.
Bucknell, which played back-to-back double-overtime games for the first time since 1978-79, shot 46.2 percent from the field and hit 8 of 27 from the arc. The Bison were hampered throughout the day by 22 turnovers, 15 of which were Richmond steals, but they had a 39-35 rebounding edge and outscored the Spiders 24-16 at the foul line. Bucknell also blocked nine shots, including a career-high five from Williamson.
Bucknell will now have five much-needed days until its next game, a home contest against NJIT on Thursday at 7 p.m.
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Noah Williamson scored 22 of his 26 points after halftime to help the Bison dig out of a deep hole and defeat Richmond 80-76 in double overtime on Saturday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion. The Bison trailed by as many as 21 points in the first half and by 18 at intermission, and they even survived Richmond's gut-punch 3-pointer at the buzzer that sent the game to a second overtime.
For the second consecutive game, Bucknell found itself in double overtime, and this time the team emerged victorious, erasing the sour taste of letting a big second-half lead get away on Wednesday against Mount St. Mary's. Now 3-2 on the season, the Bison have already played three OT games and five OT periods in five games.
Williamson, Ruot Bijiek, and Josh Bascoe combined to score 62 points for Bucknell, and the Bison defense held the Spiders to 30.4 percent (14-for-46) shooting across the second half and overtime periods.
Bucknell trailed 37-19 at halftime, but outscored Richmond 42-24 in the second stanza. Williamson took over in the second period, scoring or assisting on 11 of his team's 13 made field goals and blocking four shots. For the game, Williamson finished with a game-high tying 26 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks, and four assists. Bijiek added five rebounds and two steals to his career-high 20 points, and Bascoe finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, and 6 assists in over 45 minutes of game action. Delonnie Hunt led Richmond with 26 points.
Bucknell made its move by attacking the paint to start the second half, and the Bison quickly got back in it. They converted four 3-point plays in the first 8:17 – three from Williamson and one from Brandon McCreesh – and two Achile Spadone free throws cut the deficit to one at 49-48 with 7:45 to go.
Bijiek's 3-pointer off a drive and dish from Williamson gave the Bison a 53-51 lead with 5:40 to go, their first lead since it was 4-3 in the early stages. After Richmond tied it twice, Bascoe fed Williamson for a dunk, and then Bascoe pitched it back to Williamson for a top-of-the key three that gave Bucknell a 60-55 lead with 2:22 left.
A tough foul call on an offensive rebound took away an easy basket and put the Spiders on the foul line, which opened the door for them to tie the game on a Hunt layup with 15 seconds left.
Bucknell never trailed in either of the overtime periods. Bascoe's spinning floater in the lane snapped a 65-all tie. After two Richmond misses, McCreesh split a pair at the line to give the Bison a 68-65 lead. On Richmond's final possession, Hunt missed a three, the long rebound was tipped out near midcourt, and Mikkel Tyne collected it, dribbled to the right wing and flung in an off-balance three at the buzzer.
Undaunted, the Bison scored the first seven points of the second overtime session. After a Williamson layup, a long rebound led to a runout for Spadone and a breakaway foul on the Spiders. Spadone made both free throws, the Bison retained possession, and at the end of the shot clock Ian Motta splashed a 3-pointer from the top of the key for a 75-68 lead.
Richmond did have a possession down three in the final 30 seconds, but Dusan Neskovic was well off the mark on a corner 3-point attempt, and Bascoe hit two free throws to ice it with 11 seconds left.
Bucknell, which played back-to-back double-overtime games for the first time since 1978-79, shot 46.2 percent from the field and hit 8 of 27 from the arc. The Bison were hampered throughout the day by 22 turnovers, 15 of which were Richmond steals, but they had a 39-35 rebounding edge and outscored the Spiders 24-16 at the foul line. Bucknell also blocked nine shots, including a career-high five from Williamson.
Bucknell will now have five much-needed days until its next game, a home contest against NJIT on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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