Jan. 16, 2009

Center Valley, Pa. - Navy, American and Holy Cross all go for 3-0 marks in men's basketball Patriot League play on the road on Saturday. The Mids are at Lafayette, the Eagles travel to Colgate and the Crusaders visit Bucknell in an ESPNU-televised contest. Navy and American are also looking to extend five-game winning streaks. Army and Lehigh both look for their first League win in Bethlehem.

Patriot League Men's Basketball Release - 1.16.09

Patriot League Notebook

Title Game Rematches Highlight Saturday's Slate

Three of the four Patriot League men's basketball games on Saturday were once League title matchups, and each of the road teams will try to mark the occasion by improving their League mark to 3-0 this season. The rematch from last year's title contest will be competed in Hamilton, with Colgate opening its League home slate by hosting American. The Eagles won last year's title contest, 52-46, on their home floor. Holy Cross and Bucknell met for the League title in each season from 2005-07, and they will renew their rivalry in Lewisburg in an ESPNU-televised contest at Noon. Bucknell is also playing its Patriot League home opener. Navy and Lafayette faced off for the Patriot League crown in 1998 and 2000, and will meet again in Easton on Saturday afternoon. Navy, American and Holy Cross are all taking to the road in search of 3-0 marks in League play.

The lone matchup that was not contested in a Patriot League title game still has plenty of recent Patriot League Tournament history. Army travels to Lehigh in the evening, with the Mountain Hawks looking for revenge as the Black Knights have knocked them out in the quarterfinal round in Bethlehem in each of the last two seasons.

Navy, American, Holy Cross All Move to 2-0

Navy, American and Holy Cross all remained perfect in Patriot League men's basketball action with victories on Wednesday. The Mids needed last-second heroics from Adam Teague to win at Lehigh, 63-58, while American cruised to a 69-55 win at home over Bucknell and Holy Cross won at Army, 47-36.

Each of the losers of those contests fell to 0-2 in League play. Lafayette and Colgate are the only two squads at 1-1 in League action after the Leopards knocked off the Raiders, 69-62, in Easton on Wednesday. Every Patriot League Game on Television Saturday The Holy Cross-Bucknell contest will be broadcast to a national audience on ESPNU on Saturday at Noon, but it's not the only television exposure for the League this weekend. In fact, all four of Saturday's games will be televised. The Navy/Lafayette contest will be shown on the Lafayette Sports Network at 1 p.m., the American/Colgate game is on Time Warner Sports at 2 p.m., and the Army/Lehigh matchup closes the action from Bethlehem on Service Electric 2 Sports at 7 p.m.

Every Patriot League Game on Television Saturday

The Holy Cross-Bucknell contest will be broadcast to a national audience on ESPNU on Saturday at Noon, but it's not the only television exposure for the League this weekend. In fact, all four of Saturday's games will be televised. The Navy/Lafayette contest will be shown on the Lafayette Sports Network at 1 p.m., the American/Colgate game is on Time Warner Sports at 2 p.m., and the Army/Lehigh matchup closes the action from Bethlehem on Service Electric 2 Sports at 7 p.m.

Patriot League Back ON ESPNU

Saturday's Bucknell-Navy game brought Patriot League play back to ESPNU, with five more regular season games still yet to come. Bucknell returns to the network on Saturday, as the Bison host Holy Cross at Noon in the League's second ESPNU appearance. Future Patriot League games on ESPNU include: American at Holy Cross, Jan. 24; Navy at Army, Jan. 25; Colgate at American, Feb. 14; and Lafayette at Lehigh, Feb. 22. The Leopards and Mountain Hawks will each have this Wednesday's games televised on regional outlets.

Three Teams With 3-0 On the Line

Navy and American are trying to open up with rare 3-0 starts on Saturday, while Holy Cross is going for the perfect mark through three League games for the second time in three years. Navy has not opened Patriot League action with three wins since 1998, when the Mids started 9-0 on their way to a 10-2 League finish. American, in its eighth season as a Patriot League member, is trying to open up the year at 3-0 for the first time (excluding a 4-0 start in 2005 from a game later forfeited by Lehigh). Navy is at 2-0 for the first time since 2001, while American is at the mark for the first time since 2004.

Four Patriot League Teams Among Nation's Best On Road

With Navy's victory at Lehigh on Wednesday, the Patriot League became the only Division I conference with four teams that have recorded at least five road victories this season. Colgate, American and Lehigh have all accomplished the feat along with the Mids, and the quartet of Patriot League teams are among just 31 Division I squads that have recorded five or more road victories this season. Navy and American will try to add to their totals when they play on the road on Saturday.

Patriot League All-Access Returns in 2009

Watch the majority of Patriot League Men's and Women's Basketball regular-season League and tournament games on high-speed Broadband on the Patriot League All-Access package. For $9.95 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.

Navy Earns First Ranking In Mid-Major Top 25

For the first time in program history, Navy received a spot in the CollegeInsider.com top 25 on Monday. The Mids garnered 67 points to take the No. 25 position in the rankings. American was the only other Patriot League team to receive votes. Navy Head Coach Billy Lange also received high marks from the organization lately, finishing 10th in the voting for the Hugh Durham midseason Mid-Major Coach of the Year honor.

Patriot League Games

Holy Cross (7-10, 2-0 PL) at Bucknell (3-13, 0-2 PL)
Saturday, Noon TV: ESPNU
Sojka Pavilion; Lewisburg, Pa.
Series: Bucknell, 26-21 Streak: Holy Cross, One Win
Last Meeting: Holy Cross, 63-53 (2.16.08) Last Bucknell Win: 73-65 (1.18.08)

Holy Cross and Bucknell renew their rivalry when they face off at Noon in Lewisburg on ESPNU...Holy Cross is trying to start 3-0 in League play for the second time in the last three years, while Bucknell has never begun 0-3 in the League...The teams met for the Patriot League title in three consecutive seasons from 2005-2007, with the Bison claiming the crown in 2005 and 2006 and the Crusaders winning it all in 2007...The Bison and Crusaders have split the season series in the last two and four of the past five campaigns...Last year was the only time in that stretch where the road team won both contests, with Bucknell winning at Holy Cross, 73-65, on Jan. 18 and the Crusaders returning the favor with a 63-53 win in Lewisburg on Feb. 16...That Holy Cross victory ended a five-game Bucknell winning streak in matchups played in Lewisburg...Bucknell has a 26-21 advantage in the all-time series with Holy Cross, including a 20-16 edge in Patriot League regular-season play...The remaining matchups were played in the Patriot League Tournament, with Bucknell holding a 6-5 advantage in those postseason games.

Holy Cross Holy Cross improved to 2-0 in League action with a 47-36 win at Army on Wednesday...The Crusaders are 2-0 in the League for the third time in the last four years, and won at Army for the seventh straight season...Holy Cross has won 15 of the last 16 meetings between the schools...The Crusaders held a 21-19 lead at the break, and took over the contest with a 19-3 run that spanned over 10 minutes of the second half to go up by as many as 17 points...R.J. Evans led the Crusaders with 17 points, while Andrew Beinert added 14 while converting 4-of-5 three-pointers. Holy Cross forced 17 turnovers and held Army to 30 percent shooting...The Crusaders are playing the middle game of their three-game Patriot League road trip.

Bucknell The Bison fell to 0-2 in the Patriot League with a 69-55 loss at American on Wednesday...Bucknell is 0-2 in the League for the first time sine 2004...The Bison lost for the seventh consecutive game, with the last four coming on the road...Bucknell is 0-10 on the road this season...Bucknell fell behind midway through the first half, and trailed by as many as 25 points in the second half before rallying to close the deficit...They got solid scoring efforts from three players, with Justin Castleberry notching 15 points and Bryan Cohen and G.W. Boon each adding 14...Darryl Shazier dished out eight assists, while the Bison held a 49-37 edge on the boards...Bucknell is playing its first home game since Dec. 30, and has won two of its last three games at Sojka Pavilion.

Navy (13-4, 2-0 PL) at Lafayette (5-11, 1-1 PL)
Saturday, 1 p.m. TV: Lafayette Sports Network
Kirby Sports Center; Easton, Pa.
Series: Navy, 39-22 Streak: Navy, One Win
Last Meeting: Navy, 82-80 (2.16.08) Last Lafayette Win: 103-99 (OT) (1.19.08)

Navy and Lafayette meet in Easton with.the Mids trying for their first 3-0 start in League play since 1998...The teams split the series last year, with the road squad winning each time in close contests...Lafayette notched a 103-99 win in overtime at Navy on Jan. 19, but the Mids scored an 82-80 victory in Easton on Feb. 16...Navy has won in its last two trips to Lafayette, and four of the last five meetings in the series overall...Navy holds a 39-22 advantage in the all-time series, but the teams are knotted up, 17-17, in Patriot League regular season games.

Navy The Mids improved to 2-0 in the Patriot League and won their fifth consecutive game overall with a 63-58 triumph at Lehigh on Wednesday...Adam Teague hit the game-winning three-pointer with 3.5 seconds left in the contest...The Mids are 2-0 in League action for the first time since 2001...The Mids have won four consecutive meetings with Lehigh, including the last three in Bethlehem by five points apiece....Navy fell behind by 10 points early in the second half, but used a 16-5 run to reclaim the lead...The teams were back and forth from that point, with Lehigh's Marquis Hall tying the contest at 58 on a three-pointer with 15 seconds left...Teague canned a deep three-pointer with 3.5 seconds left for the game-winning points...After a Lehigh technical foul, Chris Harris sealed the win with a pair of free throws...Kaleo Kina led the Mids with 18 points while pulling down nine rebounds...Harris had 13 points, while Teague scored 12 and Mark Veazey tallied 10 points and eight rebounds..Navy converted 15-of-17 foul shots to overcome a tough shooting night from the floor...Navy improved to 8-1 in games decided by five points or less, with each of its five consecutive victories fitting in that category...Navy's current starting lineup of O.J. Avworo, Chris Harris, Kaleo Kina, Adam Teague and Mark Veazey has posted a 9-0 record this year....The Mids improved to 5-3 on the road, matching Colgate, American and Lehigh for the most road wins for a Patriot League team.

Lafayette The Leopards earned their first Patriot League victory of the season with a 69-62 win at home against Colgate on Wednesday... Lafayette has defeated Colgate in each of the last four seasons when the teams square off on the second game of the League schedule..The Leopards snapped a two-game overall and home losing streak to Colgate....Lafayette went up by five points at halftime, but Colgate came back to claim a one-point lead in the second half in a back-and-forth contest...Andrew Brown scored five consecutive points to turn a tie game into a 55-52 lead with just over five minutes left...The Raiders were still down just three with 1:17 to go, but Jared Mintz nailed a pair of free throws to begin to put the game away for Lafayette...Freshman Ryan Willen paced the Leopards with 14 points, his third straight game in double digits...Brown and Mintz chipped in with 13 and 12 points, respectively...Lafayette evened its home mark at 4-4 on the season heading into the matchup with Navy.

American (10-6, 2-0 PL) at Colgate (5-10, 1-1 PL)
Saturday, 2 p.m. TV: Time Warner Sports
Cotterell Court; Hamilton, N.Y.
Series: American, 15-3 Streak: American, Eight Wins
Last Meeting: American, 52-46 (3.14.08) Last Colgate Win: 67-57 (2.13.05)

The participants from the 2008 Patriot League Championship game are set for a rematch in Hamilton as American visits Colgate...American is trying to start 3-0 in the Patriot League for the first time...Colgate last opened League play at 2-1 in 2003...The Eagles won last year's title game, 52-46, and have knocked the Raiders out of each of the last two Patriot League Tournaments...American's eight-game winning streak over the Raiders is the longest active streak in a Patriot League series...The Eagles won each of last year's regular-season meetings by eight points...Colgate's last victory in the series was a 67-57 triumph at home on Feb. 13, 2005...All but one of the all-time meetings between the schools came in Patriot League play, with the Eagles up, 15-3, overall and 12-2 in Patriot League regular-season action.

American The Eagles earned their fifth consecutive win overall and moved to 2-0 in Patriot League play with a 69-55 victory over Bucknell on Wednesday...American completed its four-game homestand with a perfect record, and is now 5-1 at Bender Arena this season...The Eagles also won their ninth consecutive home game against Patriot League opponents, and opened League play with a 2-0 record for the first time since 2004 (excluding a 2-0 start in 2005 from a game later forfeited by Lehigh)...The five-game winning streak is a season-high, and each of the victories have come by double digits...The Eagles used a 10-2 run midway through the first half to go up 10 points), and stretched the lead to 40-24 by the break...American went up by as many as 25 points in the second half before settling on the 69-55 victory...It was a big night for American senior point guard Derrick Mercer, who recorded a career-high 12 assists in the game, with 10 of those coming in the first half...He also had seven points and five rebounds... Classmate Garrison Carr led all players with 25 points, 12 of which came at the line...The five-game winning streak is a season-high, and each of the victories have come by double digits.

Colgate Colgate dropped to 1-1 in Patriot League action with a 69-62 loss at Lafayette on Wednesday...Colgate saw its two-game series winning streak come to an end, and its two-game streak at Lafayette...The Raiders completed their eight-game road trip with a 3-5 record, and fell to 5-6 in road contests this season...Colgate had a one-point lead in the second half of a competitive, back-and-forth game, but Lafayette surged to the lead late in the game...Yaw Gyawu led the Raiders with his second straight 15-point effort, while Ben Jonson added 10 points...Colgate goes in search of its first home victory of the season, holding an 0-4 mark at Cotterell Court...The Raiders are playing their first home game since Dec. 6.

Army (4-12, 0-2 PL) at Lehigh (10-6, 0-2 PL)
Saturday, 7 p.m. TV: Service Electric 2 Sports
Stabler Arena; Bethlehem, Pa.
Series: Army, 57-28 Streak: Army, One Win
Last Meeting: Army, 64-61 (OT) (3.5.08) Last Lehigh Win: 58-53 (2.16.08)

Army and Lehigh square off in Bethlehem after playing three very competitive games against each other last year...The Mountain Hawks swept the regular-season series with a 57-52 win at Army on Jan. 20 and a 58-53 victory at home on Feb. 16, but the Black Knights won at Lehigh in the Patriot League quarterfinals for the second year in a row with a 64-61 overtime victory on March 5...Lehigh has won six consecutive regular-season home games against Army, with the Black Knights earning the quarterfinal victories in the last two seasons..Army holds a 57-28 lead in the all-time series, though Lehigh is up, 23-13, in regular-season Patriot League action.

Army The Black Knights fell to 0-2 in League action with a 47-36 loss at home against Holy Cross on Wednesday...Army lost its third consecutive game, all coming at home...The Black Knights are 0-2 in the League for the sixth time in the last seven seasons...Army was down by just one point early in the second half, but Holy Cross rolled off a 19-3 run that spanned over 10 minutes to pull away...Cleveland Richard had eight points for the Black Knights...Army will follow its matchup at Lehigh with another three-game homestand as it plays five of the first six Patriot League games at Christl Arena.

Lehigh The Mountain Hawks suffered their second straight heartbreaking loss in Patriot League action, as Navy scored five points in the final 3.5 seconds to deal Lehigh a 63-58 defeat in Bethlehem...Lehigh is 0-2 in the League for the second year in a row...Lehigh lost its third straight game, and fell for the fourth consecutive time to Navy...The Mountain Hawks were up by 10 points early in the second half, but Navy came right back to reclaim a one-point lead...The game was back and forth from that point, with Lehigh's Marquis Hall tying the contest at 58 on a three-pointer with 15 seconds left...It was the second straight game that Hall tied the score on a three-pointer in the final 30 seconds...Navy pulled out the win on a three-pointer by Adam Teague and a pair of foul shots following a technical foul by Lehigh in the final 3.5 seconds...Zahir Carrington led Lehigh with his third consecutive double-double, scoring 21 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Rob Keefer chipped in with 13 points...The Mountain Hawks saw a three-game home winning streak come to an end, and are 5-3 both at home and on the road this season.