(Note: We were unable to connect inside Kirby and were forced to post the gameblog from the media room following the game)

11:21 AM -- Exit 29 headed east on I-78.

A late start means no stop at Cabella's.

It's not the first time hoops and fly fishing had a conflict. Not the first time the fishing lost, either.

If the choice were go fishing or cover basketball, it would be tough. Cover a game or tie flies that won't see water until after the Final Four anyhow? No brainer. I'll bitch about it in May when I am up until 2 a.m. tying flies the night before a trip because I didn't bother tying any all winter.

No time to stop at Dietrich's either.

Dietrich's is a little butcher shop off the Krumsville exit that has an incredible selection of smoked meats. Their beef jerky is usually a staple of any trip don the valley.

12:17 p.m. Easton, Pa.

Squeeze into the only parking spot open on the street that runs up the hill next to Kirby. It's a strange thing, but somehow, I have never had a tough time finding a good parking spot at Kirby. Probably because of the steep hill, which is a parallel parking challenge.

It's not because of the crowds. Lafayette has consistently been one of the league's best draws at home.

1:07 p.m. Press Row, Kirby

The students are on break, but there is still a decent crowd on hand. They are not a loud crowd, though. During the player introductions, it is a golf clap sort of welcome for the home team. Will the crowd generate any energy for the Leopards?

17:26 first half -- Joe Knight and Jason Mgebroff check in for Lehigh.

16:37 -- Mgebroff has his first turnover

16:05 -- Kyle Neptune fouled trying to dunk . . . goes down hard -- gets up slow -- hits one of two -- Lafayette 7, Lehigh 3

At the first media timeout: 15:49 ... Lehigh shooting 1-3, 3 turnovers. Lafayette 2-4, 2 TOs

Limited number of Zoo Crew on hand. They are sporting black shirts this year ... much better than those ridiculous pink ones last season.

10: 44 Lehigh 15, Lafayette 14

Paul Cummins with a pair of threes, helping keep Lafayette in this one so far. Cummins has 8 of Lafayette's 14 points. Nobody with more than 4 for Lehigh.

9:00 Lafayette 18, Lehigh 15

Andrei Cap[usan has become a matchup problem for Lehigh. HE can step out and shoot the jumper and he is too quick on the blocks for Lehigh's big men so far, He has 6 of Lafayette's last 8 points.

Mgebroff has 4 points for Lehigh, but he is this year's Sean Knitter -- his lack of foot speed makes him a defensive liability.

7:03 Lafayette 21, Lehigh 17

Pat Betley cans a three for Lafayette. The Pards 3-7 from the arc so far.

5:49 Lafayette 23, Lehigh 21-- Capusan gets a breather. As soon as Billy Taylor sees him coming out, he send Mgebroff back in.

3:40 Lafayette 26, Lehigh 21 -- Capusan back in, hits a 12-foot jumper for his 8th point, he also has 2 assists. Knight quiet thus far 0-2 0 pts.; Olivero 2-4, 4 points

HALF TIME
Lehigh 30, Lafayette 28

Matt Betley had a chance to tie it from the free throw line but misses both shots after being hammered going to the hole by Kyle Neptue.

Joe Knight with 1 point at the half for Lehigh -- the back end of a 2-shot foul with 10.5 seconds to go in the half. He does have 2 assists.

Mgebroff with 8 points leads Lehigh. Neptune with 6.

Lehigh shooting 59.1 percent in the first half (13-22) ... 22 of their 30 in the paint.

Lafayette 10-23 (43.5 percent) but they have 3 threes (Lehigh has 2) and are 5-8 at the foul line.

Lehigh 38, Lafayette 28 (18:21 second) -- A quick 8-0 spurt by Lehigh to open the half forces Fran O'Hanlon to call a quick timeout. Back to back three by Olivero and Neptune started it. Olivero followed with an acrobatic, off-balance, one-handed shot off an aborted drive

Lehigh 38, Lafayette 34 (17:14 second) -- Two quick threes by Andrew Brown and it is Billy Taylor's turn to burn a TO.

Lehigh 57, Lafayette 48 (6:35 second)

Lehigh on a 15-7 spurt. Olivero with back to back threes. He has 15 points. Joe Knight's first field goal came at the 11 minute mark when he jumped the passing lane on a capusan kickout and took it the other way for a layin. He drove for another bucket a minute or so later. He is now 2-6, 0-3 threes, 5 assists, 5 points

Lehigh is shooting 24-38 (63.2 percent) from the field

Lehigh 67, Lafayette 50 (3:54 second) The third time is the charm for Lehigh. Twice earlier in the game, the Mountain Hawks went on little runs and threatenbed to pull away. Eash time Lafayette had an answer. But around the 11 minute mark of the second half, the 'Pards jumpers stopped falling. Lehigh stretched it slowly at first, then got its running game in gear to put the 'Pards away.

Lafayette is shooting 40 percent from the field. Usually that is good enough to beat the Hawks, who came in next to last in the league shooting 39.4 percent on the season. But Lehigh is shooting 65.1 percent from the field.

FINAL LEHIGH 76, LAFAYETTE 58