Jan. 14, 2008

Center Valley, Pa. - The schedule-makers couldn't have planned things any better for the second round of Patriot League action, as this weekend's winners will square off with a 2-0 record at stake. Lafayette makes a trip to Colgate, while American concludes a seven-game overall and two-game Patriot League road trip with a contest at Bucknell. On the other side, two teams will move to .500 and two others will fall to 0-2 when Army goes to Holy Cross and Lehigh visits Navy. All games tip off on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Patriot League Men's Basketball Release - 1.14.08

Anaconda Player of the Week (Jan. 7-13)

Garrison Carr, American Jr., G, 5'11, 165, Bellevue, Wash./Issaquah

Carr scored 24 points and was one off a career high with six three-pointers in American's 71-54 win at Lehigh on Saturday. Carr scored 15 of his points on five three-pointers in the first half as American built a 35-25 advantage at the break. He finished the game shooting 7-of-12 from the field, including 6-of-8 from long range, while also making all four foul shots. Carr's six three-pointers is tied for 10th on American's single-game list. He now has a Patriot League-best 63 three-pointers on the season, and is well on pace to break the school single-season record of 86. Carr is ninth nationally with 3.9 three-pointers made per game, and ranks 21st in the nation by making 46 percent of his three-point attempts. Carr earns his first-ever Patriot League/Anaconda Player of the Week honor.

Anaconda Rookie of the Week (Jan. 7-13)

Andrew Beinert, Holy Cross Fr., G, 6'2, 175, Floral Park, N.Y./Chaminade

Beinert scored a career-high 15 points while playing all 40 minutes in Holy Cross' 60-52 loss at Lafayette on Saturday. Beinert made 5-of-10 shots in the game, including 2-of-5 from long range, to lead the Crusaders in scoring. He also pulled down four rebounds, dished out a pair of assists and made all three of his foul shots. Beinert had four points, four rebounds and two assists in Holy Cross' loss at Maryland on Tuesday, where he also played all 40 minutes of the contest. Beinert earns his second Patriot League/Anaconda Rookie of the Week nod.

Patriot League Notebook

Off and Running

The Patriot League schedule is finally underway, and it only took one afternoon to see the preseason predictions go up in smoke. Lafayette, picked to finish in last place by the coaches and sports information directors, continued its strong play this season with a 60-52 victory over preseason favorite Holy Cross. The Leopards used two three-pointers from Matt Betley to take and extend the lead in the final minutes. Bucknell and Colgate also earned hard-fought victories at home, as the Bison rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to beat Navy, 85-77, and Colgate scored a 50-44 win over Army. But it was American that turned in the most impressive performance of the opening weekend, as the Eagles won at Lehigh, 71-54.

ESPNU Action

The men's basketball package on ESPNU opened up right away, as Bucknell beat Navy, 85-77, in the first Patriot League game of the season on Friday. The League schedule will feature seven more regular-season games on ESPNU and one on ESPN2, as well as the Championship game March 14 at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2. Veteran broadcasters Bob Socci and John Feinstein will call the action on ESPNU. The Navy/Bucknell game was also re-played on ESPNU twice on Saturday. Look for additional airings of future ESPNU games as well, beginning with Bucknell at Holy Cross on Friday. All four Patriot League games were broadcast on Saturday, and fourteen additional League games will be broadcast on other outlets.

Non-League Success

With a 60-54 record and three games remaining, the Patriot League is assured of its best-ever non-League mark in the regular season. Patriot League teams have tied the record for total non-League victories, which was set at 60 just last season. The only previous winning non-League mark came in 2000-01, when the Patriot League closed the year with a 54-53 record against non-League competition (54-52 in regular season). The Patriot League finished at 60-60 against non-League competition in 2006-07, with a 60-59 record in the regular season. With three non-League games remaining, the eight teams will finish at least three games over .500 in the 2007-08 regular season. This year's success is even more impressive since it is the first season with an all Division I schedule for every team in the League.

More Early-Season Highlights

With the victories coming, the accomplishments have accumulated as well. For the first time in Patriot League history, seven teams have recorded seven non-League wins or more. Only Bucknell (5-9) did not reach the mark, but the Bison's record gives the Patriot League its third season in an 18-year history where every team won at least five non-League games (2000-01, 2006-07 are the others). It also makes the Patriot League one of only seven conferences to have all of its members post at least five non-League victories thus far, and one of only two Mid-Major conferences (Missouri Valley) to pull it off. The Bison still have their BracketBuster game remaining in February, with a chance at giving every team six non-League wins for just the second time. The Patriot League posted an 11-8 mark against the Ivy League, concluding with Lafayette's overtime win at Princeton on Wednesday. The Leopards are the only team in the nation to win four overtime contests. Earlier in the year, the Patriot League became the first Division I conference to have every one of its teams record a road victory (Nov. 17) and the second to have all of its members beat a Division I opponent (Nov. 14).

Milennium Men III

Add Lafayette's Bilal Abdullah to the list of active Patriot Leaguers in the 1,000-point club. With 14 points on Wednesday at Princeton, Abdullah became the 58th Patriot Leaguer to join the club and now has 1,022 points. Navy's Greg Sprink (1,445) and Army's Jarell Brown (1,188) are also adding to 1,000-point careers.

Patriot League All-Access

Watch the majority of Patriot League Men's and Women's Basketball regular-season and tournament games on high-speed Broadband. For $7.95 a month, this cutting-edge technology takes you from your seat to the sideline with multi-camera coverage. Visit your school's website or www.PatriotLeague.com for more information.

Time to GET SIRIUS

The Patriot League has once again partnered with SIRIUS Satellite Radio to broadcast select men's basketball games for the 2007-08 season. The League has three games set for January's schedule, which began with Lafayette's 60-52 victory over Holy Cross in the Patriot League season opener on Saturday. Bucknell's visit to Holy Cross will be broadcast on Jan. 18, and the Bison's matchup at home against Colgate on Jan. 26 will wrap up the January schedule. All seven games of the 2008 Patriot League Men's Basketball Tournament will also be aired. In addition to the Patriot League package, Lehigh at Army (1/20) and Army at Navy (1/27) will be heard on SIRIUS via insitutional packages. The schedule of Patriot League games for February will be announced at a later date.

Patriot League Games

American at Bucknell, Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Sojka Pavilion, Lewisburg, Pa.

Series: Bucknell, 24-17 Streak: Bucknell, Seven Wins Last Meeting: Bucknell, 66-63 (2.6.07)

American The Eagles posted an impressive 71-54 win at Lehigh in the Patriot League opener on Saturday...Garrison Carr scored a team-high 24 points, and his six three-pointers were one off a career best...He now has 63 three-pointers on the season, well on pace to break the school single-season record of 86...American opened up a 10-point halftime lead, and extended it to 21 by holding Lehigh to just two field goals in the first 13:32 of the second half...Derrick Mercer added 16 points and eight assists, and Brian Gilmore had 10 points, six rebounds and four assists...The Eagles shot 46 percent overall and 61 percent from behind the arc, while holding Lehigh to just 35 percent shooting and 27 percent from behind the arc...The Eagles open their Patriot League docket with a win for the first time since 2004...That game was a three-point American victory over Bucknell...The Eagles have not beaten the Bison since a 68-59 win on Jan. 28, 2005, and have not won at Bucknell since Feb. 13, 2002...American is playing the last contest of a school-record seven-game road trip...It is 3-3 on the trip so far.

Bucknell The Bison opened Patriot League play with an 85-77 win over Navy on Friday night at Sojka Pavilion...They were down by seven points at halftime, but took a 10-point lead with a 26-8 run in the second half...John Griffin recorded a four-point play to give Bucknell a 63-56 lead with 7:37 left, and Jason Vegotsky added a three on the next possession to cap the run...The Bison held at least a five-point lead the rest of the way...Bucknell won its Patriot League opener for the fourth year in a row , and recorded its 12th consecutive regular-season win in the League...The Bison also earned their 36th straight home win over a PL foe...It was their seventh win in a row over Navy...Justin Castleberry led the way with 19 points, while Vegotsky had 14 and Griffin scored 13...Stephen Tyree equaled a career-high with 10 points while adding seven rebounds and a career-high six assists...Vegotsky and Darren Mastropaolo made their first starts after injuries earlier in the year, while Rob Thomas played for the first time since injuring a knee on opening night...Bucknell goes for its eighth win in a row against American...Two of the wins on the current streak were in the Patriot League Tournament...The Bison have won the last seven meetings at Sojka Pavilion.

Army at Holy Cross, Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Hart Center, Worcester, Mass.

Series: Holy Cross, 50-14 Streak: HC, 13 Wins Last Meeting: HC, 70-54 OT (2.6.07)

Army The Black Knights dropped their second game of the week with a 50-44 loss at Colgate on Saturday...Army closed to within 48-44 with 24 seconds left after falling behind by 12 in the first half, but would get no closer...Tyrell Thompson led the team with 10 points, while Jarell Brown was held to eight...That snapped Brown's run of 11 straight games in double figures...Army used its eighth starting lineup of the season in the game...The 50 points allowed marked the fewest in an Army loss since a 42-38 defeat to Colgate last season at Christl Arena...Army has now lost nine consecutive Patriot League openers, and seven consecutive games against Colgate...Army has dropped the last 13 contests against Holy Cross, but did take the Crusaders to overtime before falling, 70-54, in the last meeting on Feb. 6, 2007...The last win in the series was in the 2002 Patriot League campaign...Army plays the last of a three-game road trip.

Holy Cross The Crusaders fell in their Patriot League opener, 60-52, at Lafayette on Saturday...It ended a seven-game winning streak against the Leopards...After trailing by nine points at halftime, the Crusaders rallied to take a 50-48 lead with 5:01 remaining...They were outscored, 12-2, down the stretch...Freshman guard Andrew Beinert scored a career-high 15 points and played all 40 minutes...Tim Clifford totaled 11 points, five rebounds and three blocks, while Colin Cunningham notched 12 points and seven rebounds...Alex Vander Baan returned to the lineup after missing the last three games due to injury, but starting point guard Pat Doherty and backup forward Eric Meister were still sidelined...The Crusaders look to extend their 13-game winning streak against Army...They have won the last 10 meetings by double digits, including a 70-54 triumph in overtime last season...The Crusaders will also try to build on their 23-game overall winning streak at the Hart Center, which is the sixth-longest nationally.

Lafayette At Colgate, Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Cotterell Court, Hamilton, N.Y.

Series: Colgate, 42-36 Streak: Colgate, One Win Last Meeting: Colgate, 54-51 (2.7.07)

Lafayette The Leopards knocked off Patriot League preseason favorite Holy Cross, 60-52, on Saturday at Kirby Sports Center...They led by nine points at halftime, but saw Holy Cross take a 50-48 lead with 5:01 left...Matt Betley hit a three-pointer on the next possession to make it 51-50, and later iced the win with another three-pointer to give Lafayette a four-point advantage with 39 seconds to play...The Leopards hit four free throws down the stretch to extend the cushion...Bilal Abdullah led the Leopards with 14 points, while Andrew Brown and Betley each scored 13....Abdullah also had a team-high eight rebounds...He scored his 1,000th point on Wednesday against Princeton, and now has 1,022 for his career...Lafayette was playing its first home game since Dec. 3 after going 4-4 on an eight-game road trip...The Leopards split the season series with Colgate a year ago, winning at Cotterell Court, 71-65, on Jan. 10, 2007...The Leopards have won three of the last four in the series, including the last two in Hamilton...Lafayette has not started 2-0 in the League since 2004-05.

Colgate The Raiders beat Army, 50-44, to win their Patriot League opener for the fourth year in a row...They raced out to a 17-4 lead and held a 28-18 advantage at halftime, and maintained at least a four-point edge the rest of the way...Freshman Mike Venezia led the team with 10 points, while Kendall Chones had nine...Alex Woodhouse had eight rebounds against Army, and has led the team in rebounding in 10 of 15 games this year...Chones went over 400 career rebounds (407) last week, while Kyle Roemer topped the 800-point mark (811)...Colgate won its seventh consecutive game against Army...Colgate won the last meeting with Lafayette, 54-51, on Feb. 7, 2007, to break a three-game losing streak in the series...Before the losing streak, the Raiders had won four games in a row against the Leopards...Colgate is in search of its first 2-0 record in League play since opening 3-0 in 1998-99.

Lehigh at Navy, Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Alumni Hall, Annapolis, Md.

Series: Navy, 40-15 Streak: Navy, One Win Last Meeting: Navy, 70-65 (2.7.07)

Lehigh The Mountain Hawks lost in their first Patriot League game of the year, 71-54, at home against American on Saturday...The loss was the Mountain Hawks first in a league opener since the 2001-02 season and snapped their four-game winning streak versus the Eagles...Marquis Hall led Lehigh with 13 points, while Rob Keefer scored 12...The Mountain Hawks held a 36-28 advantage on the boards, led by Bryan White with 11...They shot just 35 percent from the floor, including 31 percent in the first half to trail, 35-25, at the break...It was just Lehigh's second home loss of the season (6-2), and ended a four-game home winning streak...Lehigh lost its last meeting with Navy (70-65/Feb. 7, 2007) after winning the previous three...Lehigh has won its last five trips to Annapolis, though the victory in the 2005 campaign was later forfeited.

Navy The Mids fell in their Patriot League opener, 85-77, on Friday at Bucknell...Navy dropped its seventh straight Patriot League opener, with the last three coming against Bucknell...Greg Sprink led the team with 26 points, while Kaleo Kina had a career-high 24...Navy had a 46-39 lead at halftime, scoring the most points in a half for a Bucknell opponent at Sojka Pavilion...A 23-8 Bucknell run while Sprink was on the bench with foul trouble was the difference in the second half...Sprink went over 20 points for the seventh time this season and has now scored in double figures in 15-of-16 Navy games...He is averaging 24.8 ppg and 8.0 rpg in the last four contests...Sprink needs just five three-pointers to become Navy's all-time leader in three-pointers made (201 - Michael Heary)...He needs just one steal and two rebounds to become the second member of the 1,000-point, 500-rebound, 200-assist, 100-steal club at Navy (Vernon Butler; 1983-86)...Sprink has 1,445 career points, 498 rebounds, 206 assists and 99 steals...Kina and Sprink are averaging 43.2 combined ppg in the last six outings. (Sprink - 23.3 ppg; Kina - 19.8 ppg)...Navy goes for its second consecutive win over Lehigh on Wednesday...The Mids won, 70-65, at Lehigh on Feb. 7, 2007...Navy has not beaten the Mountain Hawks at home since a 92-85 triumph on Jan. 16, 2002.