Sunday, February 25
Lewisburg, Pa.
2 p.m.
Bucknell University
54
vs
41
Army
Photo by: Steven Schoenfelder
Men's Basketball Stifles Army, 54-41
2/25/2024 3:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell rode an 11-0 run in each half and its best defensive performance in 12 years to a 54-41 victory over Army West Point on Sunday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion. Josh Bascoe scored 11 points and Ian Motta had 10 to lead a big day for the bench unit, as the Bison snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 8-8 in Patriot League play.
Noah Williamson recorded 10 points and seven rebounds, and it was his 3-pointer-steal-layup combo that sparked Bucknell's decisive run in the latter stages of the second half.
Both teams struggled offensively and endured lengthy droughts, but it was the Bison who were able to piece together two big runs. After starting the game 2-for-16 from the field, Bucknell 8 of 9 and finished the first half on an 11-0 run to go up 26-19. The Bison then missed their first eight shots of the second half but never relinquished the lead, and their second 11-0 run stretched a six-point margin all the way to 17 at 48-31 with 4:29 to play.
Army came into the day as the Patriot League's toughest team on which to score, and the Bison rallied to shoot 40.0 percent from the field for the game. They finished 8-for-28 from downtown and saw their free-throw struggles continue with a 2-for-9 ledger.
Bucknell's defense carried the day, as the Bison limited the Black Knights to 28.6 percent shooting, including a 4-for-20 mark from the 3-point arc. Two of those treys came from deep reserves in the final two minutes, including a 40-footer at the buzzer from Griff Lamb. Army had only 33 points with two minutes to go, as Bucknell nearly posted a sub-40 defensive effort for the first time since a 66-38 win over Binghamton in 2010-11.
The 41 points allowed was Bucknell's best since a 75-41 win over Holy Cross in 2011-12, and the Bison kept an opponent under 50 points for the first time since a 65-43 win over Monmouth in 2018-19.
Bucknell forced 15 turnovers and finished with a 42-35 rebounding advantage. Abe Johnson scored a game-high 12 points for Army (10-19, 6-10 PL), which has now dropped back-to-back games on the heels of a four-game winning streak.
The Bison managed only six points in the game's first 12:23, but they only trailed 12-6 before Bascoe swished a three off an offensive rebound to end a 9:30 field-goal drought. Down 19-15 inside 4:30 to play in the half, Josh Adoh scored on a drive, and then Adoh, Motta, and Bascoe canned consecutive 3-pointers in a 90-second span to put the Bison up by seven at the break.
Johnson's follow jam brought Army within 26-24, as the Bison didn't score their first points of the second half until Pip Ajayi finished an Elvin Edmonds IV feed at the 14:05 mark. Motta, who had a season-high 17 points in Bucknell's 10-point win at West Point last month, followed with a 3-pointer to push the margin back to seven.
Johnson's layup made it a 37-31 game with 9:04 to play, but those would be Army's last points for the next 4:50. Williamson ignited Bucknell's second 11-0 spurt with a 3-pointer from the right corner. He worked around Johnston to steal a post entry at the other end, and then he scored again on a post move to make it 42-31.
Motta scored in the lane and then took a charge on defense, Bascoe hit his third triple of the day, and Jack Forrest made 1 of 2 at the foul line to cap the run with Bucknell in charge 48-31 with 4:29 left.
It was a productive day for the Bison in terms of the Patriot League standings. Bucknell kept pace with Boston University – an overtime winner over Loyola on Sunday – in a tie for fifth place at 8-8. Army and Holy Cross began the day just one game behind the Bison, but both lost to fall two games back at 6-10. Bucknell is just one game behind Lehigh and American, who are tied for third at 9-7.
Two games remain in the regular season. Bucknell travels to Loyola on Wednesday before hosting Lafayette on Senior Night next Saturday at 7 p.m.
Noah Williamson recorded 10 points and seven rebounds, and it was his 3-pointer-steal-layup combo that sparked Bucknell's decisive run in the latter stages of the second half.
Both teams struggled offensively and endured lengthy droughts, but it was the Bison who were able to piece together two big runs. After starting the game 2-for-16 from the field, Bucknell 8 of 9 and finished the first half on an 11-0 run to go up 26-19. The Bison then missed their first eight shots of the second half but never relinquished the lead, and their second 11-0 run stretched a six-point margin all the way to 17 at 48-31 with 4:29 to play.
Army came into the day as the Patriot League's toughest team on which to score, and the Bison rallied to shoot 40.0 percent from the field for the game. They finished 8-for-28 from downtown and saw their free-throw struggles continue with a 2-for-9 ledger.
Bucknell's defense carried the day, as the Bison limited the Black Knights to 28.6 percent shooting, including a 4-for-20 mark from the 3-point arc. Two of those treys came from deep reserves in the final two minutes, including a 40-footer at the buzzer from Griff Lamb. Army had only 33 points with two minutes to go, as Bucknell nearly posted a sub-40 defensive effort for the first time since a 66-38 win over Binghamton in 2010-11.
The 41 points allowed was Bucknell's best since a 75-41 win over Holy Cross in 2011-12, and the Bison kept an opponent under 50 points for the first time since a 65-43 win over Monmouth in 2018-19.
Bucknell forced 15 turnovers and finished with a 42-35 rebounding advantage. Abe Johnson scored a game-high 12 points for Army (10-19, 6-10 PL), which has now dropped back-to-back games on the heels of a four-game winning streak.
The Bison managed only six points in the game's first 12:23, but they only trailed 12-6 before Bascoe swished a three off an offensive rebound to end a 9:30 field-goal drought. Down 19-15 inside 4:30 to play in the half, Josh Adoh scored on a drive, and then Adoh, Motta, and Bascoe canned consecutive 3-pointers in a 90-second span to put the Bison up by seven at the break.
BINGO! Great find by Bascoe to Motta. Bascoe followed with a 3FG of his own, and the Bison are red hot all the sudden, leading 26-19 in the final minute of the half. #rayBucknell
— Bucknell MBasketball (@Bucknell_MBB) February 25, 2024
Watch: https://t.co/2Z6hSLYPmK@ESPN | @PatriotLeagueTV pic.twitter.com/NK6WuaatNj
Johnson's follow jam brought Army within 26-24, as the Bison didn't score their first points of the second half until Pip Ajayi finished an Elvin Edmonds IV feed at the 14:05 mark. Motta, who had a season-high 17 points in Bucknell's 10-point win at West Point last month, followed with a 3-pointer to push the margin back to seven.
Johnson's layup made it a 37-31 game with 9:04 to play, but those would be Army's last points for the next 4:50. Williamson ignited Bucknell's second 11-0 spurt with a 3-pointer from the right corner. He worked around Johnston to steal a post entry at the other end, and then he scored again on a post move to make it 42-31.
Motta scored in the lane and then took a charge on defense, Bascoe hit his third triple of the day, and Jack Forrest made 1 of 2 at the foul line to cap the run with Bucknell in charge 48-31 with 4:29 left.
It was a productive day for the Bison in terms of the Patriot League standings. Bucknell kept pace with Boston University – an overtime winner over Loyola on Sunday – in a tie for fifth place at 8-8. Army and Holy Cross began the day just one game behind the Bison, but both lost to fall two games back at 6-10. Bucknell is just one game behind Lehigh and American, who are tied for third at 9-7.
Two games remain in the regular season. Bucknell travels to Loyola on Wednesday before hosting Lafayette on Senior Night next Saturday at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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