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Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Trio of games on tap
Patriot League scoreboards
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Lafayette at Bucknell, 7 p.m.: Lafayette comes in off a 32-point spanking at the hands of Ivy Power Penn. It won't get any easier for the Leopards in Lewisburg. The last time these two met, Bucknell put a 70-34 hurting on Lafayette, holding the 'Pards to 25.6 percent shooting from the field. Jamaal Douglas accounted for 12 of Lafayette's points in that game. He is no longer a Leopard, having left for the greener (read scholarship) pastures of Eastern Kentucky.

The Leopards showed an ability to put points on the board in their two wins prior to the loss at Penn, scoring 80 in the win over Navy and 84 in beating Colgate. But last year the 'Pards had averaged 77 per game in the five games leading up to that season-ending tournament loss at Bucknell. Bucknell's defense has been even tougher this season, and without an inside threat like Douglas to hold them at bay, expect the Bison perimeter players to apply suffocating pressure on Lafayette's shooters.

Lafayette has never won in Sojka Pavilion (0-4) losing by an average score of 72-49.

Five Bucknell players are averaging in double figures against Lafayette over their careers. Chris McNaughton, Kevin Bettencourt and Charles Lee have each averaged around 14 points per game against the 'Pards. John Griffin has averaged 11 ppg.
Lafayette Web site | Bucknell notes | USA Today matchup | Gametracker | Bucknell Radio

Lehigh at Colgate, 7 p.m.: The Mountain Hawks are on a five-game win streak. The Raiders are reeling, having lost two in a row and seven of their last nine against Division I opponents. But all bets are off when Lehigh visits Hamilton. The last time Lehigh won up on the tundra, they were still called the Engineers. Since that win in the 1990-91 season, Lehigh has lost 14 in a row at Colgate.

Of course if Joe Knight drops 45 on Colgate like he did in Worcester during the league tournament last March, that streak ought to end.
Colgate notes | Lehigh notes | USA Today matchup | Live Stats | 'Gate radio

Army at American, 7:30 p.m.: The Eagles look to even their league record, a feat they ought to be able to achieve when they host lowly Army, a team they have beaten nine times in a row.

That does not mean AU won't need to come to play. While the Eagles got a boost with their win at Colgate Saturday, they still are very much a work in progress.

Army, despite only two wins over D-I foes, is a better team than it was last season, especially now that Jarrell Brown is back in the lineup. The Cadets played Lehigh tough their last time out and even in their worst seasons, have never backed down from anyone.

But AU's frontcourt, with Paulius Joneliunas and Brayden Billbe, should be tough for Army to handle, especially on the road.
AU notes | Army notes | USA Today matchup | Gametracker | AU radio

Readaround:
  • In a story about Bobby Cremins interest in the Georgia Tech AD job, Cremins predicts Bucknell as a Final Four team.
  • Ken McMillan of the Times Herald-Record profiles Army's Corban Bates
    • Published at 8:14 AM by Hoop Time.
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