Men's Basketball Uses Big Second Half to Power Past Endicott in Exhibition

Saturday, October 24

Lewisburg, Pa.

12 p.m.

Bucknell University

0-0,0-0Patriot

Endicott (exhibition)

0-0,0-0CNE

Team	1	2	F
Endicott	38	33	71
Bucknell	34	50	84

Photo by: Jon Lambert

10/24/2026 2:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Bucknell men's basketball welcomed back Bison Hall-of-Famer Kevin Bettencourt '06 and his strong Endicott Gulls for a scrimmage on Saturday afternoon and sweated out the expected dogfight. The Bison used a 50-point second half to prevail 84-71 after trailing 38-34 at halftime and started the 2026-27 season on a positive note. Bucknell head coach John Griffin III and Bettencourt were teammates on two of Bucknell's greatest basketball teams, the 2005 and 2006 Patriot League championship squads that went on to win first-round games in the NCAA Tournament.

The reworked Bison squad, featuring a heavy dosage of newcomers, delivered four players in double digits, headlined by Spring Hill transfer Rocco Lamuno's 16 points. Returner Aleksander Pachucki added 15 points. Regis transfer Luke Soden scored 14 points in 21 minutes. Northeastern transfer Luca Soroa Schaller rounded out the double digit scorers with 11.

Bucknell was remarkably consistent in scoring, finishing 32-of-64 (50%) for the game. Additionally, the Bison shot 50% in the first (14-of-28) and second (18-36%) halves. Interestingly, Endicott mirrored the Bison in consistency, hitting 22-of-54 (40.7%) overall and 11-of-27 (40.7%) in both halves.

The Gulls went to the line 28 times to Bucknell's 14, as the Bison were whistled for 24 fouls. The Orange & Blue overcome that hurdle by draining 12 three-pointers. Three Bison hit three treys, highlighted by Patrick O'Brien's perfect day (3-of-3) from downtown.

Bucknell trailed 50-49 with 14:52 remaining in the second half. The Bison had erased the halftime deficit but the tenacious Gulls answered every challenge. A 13-1 Bucknell run permanently handed the lead to the Orange & Blue. Ethan Marten-Coney tied the game at 50-50 with a free throw. Soroa Schaller nailed a three-pointer, and after an Endicott free throw, Jacob Meachem hit a driving layup, Mert Kocagozoglu deposited a layup, and Lamuno drained a trey and a layup off a fast break.

Endicott made a last grasp, drawing within 62-55 at 8:18 on a fastbreak layup. Pachucki answered 18 seconds with a three-pointer and the defense held Endicott scoreless until 5:55. The effort exhausted Endicott and the Bison cruised for the remaining minutes.

Bucknell built early leads of 15-9 and 25-18. Endicott erased the latter with a 9-0 run. Pachucki halted that stretch with a basket, but the Gulls, undaunted, responded with a 6-0 run. Bucknell again rose to the challenge with a 5-0 stretch. Endicott did not falter and entered halftime with the 38-34 lead.

The contest was dedicated to ALS awareness and the Behan Strong foundation. Former Bison Pat Behan '10 is batting ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. More information about Pat and his battle can be found at the BehanStrong website at BehanStrong.com.

The Bison open regular season play on Nov. 2 at Maryland. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed on Big Ten Network Plus.