Saturday, February 3
Washington, D.C.
4 p.m.
Bucknell University
9-14,6-4Patriot
66
at
75
American
13-10,7-3Patriot
1
2
OT 1
F
Bucknell
22
41
3
66
American
32
31
12
75
Photo by: Phil Inglis
Bison Men Fall in Overtime to American, 75-66
2/3/2024 6:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
WASHINGTON, D.C.- The Bucknell Bison men's basketball team (9-14, 6-4 Patriot League) rallied from a second-half 14-point deficit to force overtime but fell short, losing 75-66 to the American Eagles (13-10, 7-3 Patriot League) on Saturday afternoon. The two teams entered the game tied for third in the conference. American completed the season series of the Bison. Bucknell led 62-59 with 1:07 remaining, but the Orange & Blue could not hold the advantage.
Three Orange & Blue members scored in double-digits, led by Noah Williamson's 20 points. Williamson was efficient, going 8-of-14 from the field and 3-of-6 from the charity stripe. Jack Forrest surpassed his season average, tallying 18 points. Edvin Edmonds IV added 17 points.
American also had three double-digit scorers, with two members hitting the 20+ mark. Matt Rogers led all scorers with 23 points, and Lorenzo Donadio tallied 22.
Both teams shot a plethora of three-pointers. The Bison went 8-of-27 (29.6%), and American hit 14-of-33 (42.4%).
Bucknell missed some opportunities at the free throw line, going 12-of-19 (63.2%), including the chance to take the lead in the final seconds.
Despite going up 4-3 to commence the action, the Bison started slowly, falling behind 19-8 to the high-flying Eagles. American used five three-pointers to drive its early attack. The Eagles ran its lead to 21-8 before the Bison counterattacked with a 6-0 run. Edmonds IV tallied five of those six points.
American converted two free throws, and Edmonds IV drained a three-pointer to pull Bucknell within five points. American hit a basket, and then both teams went cold for three minutes until American's Adrian Samuels deposited a trey for the 28-18 lead. The teams traded four points, and American led 32-22 at halftime.
The Eagles displayed no sign of letting up outside of halftime, answering every Bison score with an answer. Gradually, American obtained its largest lead (42-28) of the game at 16:37. Things looked dire for the Bison, but Coach Griff's charges responded to his petitions. A 10-0 run sparked the Bison faithful, leading to an American timeout. The run began and ended with Edmonds IV's three-pointers. Beyond those shots, Forrest added two free throws and Pip Ajayi made a layup.
American expanded the lead to eight points, 48-40, before the Bison again stampeded back into the fray. This time, it was a 7-0 run, courtesy of Forrest, Williamson, and Ian Motta. Unlike before, American would not escape. Bucknell seized the 51-49 advantage, its first lead since 4-3 in the first half, on a Williamson layup. That triggered a chain of events where the lead would swap hands seven times before the Bison held the 60-58 advantage obtained via two Forrest free throws.
American tallied a free throw, and Edmonds made a layup for the 62-59 lead with 1:20 left. Elijah Stephens tied the game for the Eagles with a three-pointer only 13 seconds later. With 19 seconds left, American was fouled on the baseline, triggering the double bonus. Lincoln Ball made 1-of-2 free throws. Noah Williamson was fouled on the following Bison possession but only hit 1-of-2 free throws. Regulation ended in a 63-63 tie when American's last-second heave was short.
Overtime belonged to the hometown Eagles. The Eagles scored the first three points, during which Forrest fouled out. Motta hit one free throw to pull within 66-64. A Matt Rogers three-pointer at 2:27 made it 70-64. Williamson added a basket, but Matt Mayock buried a three-pointer, effectively sealing the win for American. Two free throws later, and American won 75-66.
Up Next
The Bison head to Annapolis on Feb. 7 to face the Midshipmen. Bucknell defeated Navy 71-63 at Sojka on Jan. 24.
Three Orange & Blue members scored in double-digits, led by Noah Williamson's 20 points. Williamson was efficient, going 8-of-14 from the field and 3-of-6 from the charity stripe. Jack Forrest surpassed his season average, tallying 18 points. Edvin Edmonds IV added 17 points.
American also had three double-digit scorers, with two members hitting the 20+ mark. Matt Rogers led all scorers with 23 points, and Lorenzo Donadio tallied 22.
Both teams shot a plethora of three-pointers. The Bison went 8-of-27 (29.6%), and American hit 14-of-33 (42.4%).
Bucknell missed some opportunities at the free throw line, going 12-of-19 (63.2%), including the chance to take the lead in the final seconds.
Despite going up 4-3 to commence the action, the Bison started slowly, falling behind 19-8 to the high-flying Eagles. American used five three-pointers to drive its early attack. The Eagles ran its lead to 21-8 before the Bison counterattacked with a 6-0 run. Edmonds IV tallied five of those six points.
American converted two free throws, and Edmonds IV drained a three-pointer to pull Bucknell within five points. American hit a basket, and then both teams went cold for three minutes until American's Adrian Samuels deposited a trey for the 28-18 lead. The teams traded four points, and American led 32-22 at halftime.
The Eagles displayed no sign of letting up outside of halftime, answering every Bison score with an answer. Gradually, American obtained its largest lead (42-28) of the game at 16:37. Things looked dire for the Bison, but Coach Griff's charges responded to his petitions. A 10-0 run sparked the Bison faithful, leading to an American timeout. The run began and ended with Edmonds IV's three-pointers. Beyond those shots, Forrest added two free throws and Pip Ajayi made a layup.
Here comes the Bison!
— Bucknell MBasketball (@Bucknell_MBB) February 3, 2024
Edmonds IV's three caps a 10-0 run and forces an American timeout!
Watch: https://t.co/b6FiMDD7Qm@PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/veCQyB1QnI
American expanded the lead to eight points, 48-40, before the Bison again stampeded back into the fray. This time, it was a 7-0 run, courtesy of Forrest, Williamson, and Ian Motta. Unlike before, American would not escape. Bucknell seized the 51-49 advantage, its first lead since 4-3 in the first half, on a Williamson layup. That triggered a chain of events where the lead would swap hands seven times before the Bison held the 60-58 advantage obtained via two Forrest free throws.
American tallied a free throw, and Edmonds made a layup for the 62-59 lead with 1:20 left. Elijah Stephens tied the game for the Eagles with a three-pointer only 13 seconds later. With 19 seconds left, American was fouled on the baseline, triggering the double bonus. Lincoln Ball made 1-of-2 free throws. Noah Williamson was fouled on the following Bison possession but only hit 1-of-2 free throws. Regulation ended in a 63-63 tie when American's last-second heave was short.
Overtime belonged to the hometown Eagles. The Eagles scored the first three points, during which Forrest fouled out. Motta hit one free throw to pull within 66-64. A Matt Rogers three-pointer at 2:27 made it 70-64. Williamson added a basket, but Matt Mayock buried a three-pointer, effectively sealing the win for American. Two free throws later, and American won 75-66.
Up Next
The Bison head to Annapolis on Feb. 7 to face the Midshipmen. Bucknell defeated Navy 71-63 at Sojka on Jan. 24.
Team Stats
Buck
Americ
FG%
.411
.407
3FG%
.296
.424
FT%
.632
.773
RB
29
39
TO
11
13
STL
5
4
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
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