Twenty-five minutes to game time, Bucknell comes out to start final pregame rituals to a roar from the crowd in Sojka, about half full at the moment.

Senior night note: Bucknell's lineup will look like this to start: Tarik Viaer McClymont at the five; Holland Mack the 4; Charles Lee, Kevin Bettencourt and Abe Badmus in their usual 3,2,1 alignment.

The Sewell watch is on. The big redhead from Florida has been in and out of the doghouse more than Snoopy. Watch the Army box scores, Sewell is as likely to get a start as a DNP.

The 6-11 junior has played in 21 games, averaging 10.5 minutes. Sewell has started 7 times. Four times he has not left the bench, including Wednesday at Lafayette. His last start came when these two met at West Point three weeks ago. Sewell played 15 minutes in that one, and 16 off the bench against Navy the next game. Since then he has seen single digits three straight games, seven against both Holy Cross and Lehigh and four against American.

Ten minutes till tip ...

With Chris McNaughton and Darren Mastropaolo both bumped from the starting lineup in deference to seniors, there were rumors in the media room of a press pool on how long it would be until one, or both, were at the scorers table. The idea never took off though. Too many people wanted to bet on somebody reporting immediately after the tip.

Here's a stat line to ponder: Army's Erik Engstrom -- 20 games, 12 starts, he has taken 10 shots (mad half of 'em) 45 rebounds, 56 fouls.

If this one gets out of hand, we may well stop blogging and join the crew over in the Basketball U Patriot League chat room.

Bison band out in force and sounds as though they have been practicing (so as not to embarrass themselves on national TV, perhaps?). Got to give them their props when they deserve them.

Bucknell cheerleaders say they have had to try to step up their game to keep pace with the team, too. "We've incorporated more stunts," says one of the Rah Rahs in a courtside conversation. She says they also can't understand why they have to sit in front of the student section, since all the students stand anyhow. They have noticed that cheerleaders elsewhere don't have to sit, she says.

Introducing the Bison seniors. Tarik is shooting 60 percent this season, the announcer mentions. Who'd a thunk it?

Nice touch, the parent escorting each senior is wearing an orange replica jersey with their player's number. A Holland Mack replica jersey; another who'd a thunk it moment.

Charles Lee's intro could have been shorter. Just say, "Dude's in the top 10 in everything."

Bettencourt gets the last into. Seeing him by his mother and father, he is lucky to be tall enough to play Division I ball. It is not genetic.

There will be a three-minute warm-up period before the tip.

Pregame introductions, Bucknell students at the one end turn their back on Army, then lock arms and sway like the Bison huddle awaiting the first introduction. These kids are catching on.

We have said it before, we'll say it again: Sojka has turned into the absolute best college basketball atmosphere in the Patriot League. The place is almost full, including the student sections. On a Saturday night against Army.

For Bucknell old-timers, it is like the Patrick King-Mike Bright era in Davis on steroids.

Army 6, Bucknell 4 (15:32 first)

Bad news for Bucknell. Point guard Abe Badmus came off the floor hobbling around the 18:50 mark. They were looking at his right ankle. He is not on the Bison bench, apparently having gone to the training room for treatment.

First subs for Bucknell (aside from griffin for the injured Badmus), not McNaughton and Mastropaolo, but Rob Thomas and Donald Brown. Thomas at the two, with Bettencourt shifting to the point. Brown for Mack.

McNaughton for Tarik at the next stop.

Bettencourt with all of Bucknell's points, a pair of jumpers just inside the arc on each.

Bucknell 14, Army 11 (10:00 first)
Badmus returns to the BU bench around the 14:29 mark. Ankle is heavily taped. He walked with no noticeable limp.

John Griffin gives Bucknell its first lead at 10-9 with back-to-back threes.

Bucknell on an 8-2 run. Bison shooting 6-13, 46.2 percent.

Army 4-11, 36.4 percent.

Bucknell 17, Army 15 (7:27 first)
Badmus at the scorers table to return at the 8 minute mark.

He will be in following this timeout.

Army briefly went back on top, 15-14, but Charles Lee answered with a three. He was just fouled on a breakaway and will be at the line for two after this timeout.

Jimmy Sewell in his warm-ups has the very last seat at the far end of Army's bench.


Bucknell 22, Army 15 (3:54)

Charles Lee on a one-man 8-0 run for Bucknell. Army has not scored in about 4 minutes.

Bison come out and show some press. They have done this from time to time in several games, though not usually in full bore go for the steal mode.

Pat Flannery talked about pressing more in the preseason. You have to wonder, are the Bison working on this with a purpose other than just to show opponents some wrinkles in the film?

Corban Bates air balls a hook shot, hears it throughout the next possession, then tries to bull through McNaughton in frustration and is called for the charge, His third, Army's 7th team foul.


Bucknell 25, Army 18 (HALFTIME)
Bucknell trapping press causes first turnover at around 3:50, a wild pass trying to beat it that goes out of bounds. Brown is out on top as the chaser in this press.

Army's Doug Williams gets a bail out call with the shot clock running out, but bricks both shots at the 2:43 mark. Now over five minutes without an Army point.

Marshall Jackson breaks the scoreless stretch with a layup at the 1:11 mark. Is fouled and completes the three-point play.

Lee answers with a fadeaway J. He is on an 11-2 run of his own.

Jackson with 10 for Army. No other Cadets with more than 2.

Army shooting 7-20 (35 percent). Bucknell 9-25 (36 percent)

Bucknell with 10 second chance points and 6 points off 10 Army turnovers. Army has 4 off 6 BU giveaways.

HALFTIME: Good news from the halftime entertainment. None of the trampoline dunkers broke a leg this time. Apparently, according to one of the reporters who was at the game, two years ago one of them did.

Bucknell 34, Army 18 (18:42 second)
No real surprise, Bucknell went to McNaughton on its first possession. the big guy was fouled, and made one of two, his first point of the night.

Bucknell got the offensive rebound when he missed the second, resulting in a Bettencourt three.

They repeated the trick again when Mastropaolo was fouled making a layup and missed the free throw. Bettencourt now with 10 points.

It is now a 9-0 run in the first 1:18 of the second half. Army already with three team fouls.

Bucknell 38, Army 22 (15:56 second)

McNaughton's first bucket at the 17:06 mark. Next BU possession he draws Bates fourth personal and knocks down both free throws. McNaughton now with 5 after a scoreless first half.

Bucknell 52, Army 31 (8:58 to go)

15:30 mark, Donald Brown goes down hard. It looks bad, as he writhes in pain, but he later hops off and walks off on his own. That's two injury scares now for the Bison -- the last thing you want to see in a meaningless (other than for BU's unbeaten conference mark) game heading into the postseason.

Bates gets his fifth personal at the 13:32 mark and is serenaded with "Nah, Nah, Nah, Nah, Hey, hey Goodbye."

Lee knocks down both free throws to push the lead over 20, then takes a seat, Thomas giving him a break.

Bucknell with Mastropaolo, Thomas, Badmus, Griffin and Vegotsky on the floor. Now that is going small.

12:08, McNaughton and Brown back in.

somebody else will need to score for Army. Matt Bell, who has all 8 second half points for Army, also sits down at the 12:08 mark.

The answer is John Moonshower. His jumper at the 11:27 mark is Army's first non-Bell points of the half.

If you said John Who?, you are not alone. Moonshower is a 6-5 freshman who has seen time in 11 games this season. He has seen more time the past five games, scoring 9 against Lehigh and 8 against Lafayette.

Bucknell 61, Army 45 (3:04 to play)

With 4:48 to go, another injury scare for Bucknell. It's Brown again. This time he is on the floor holding his head. He walks off, but Flannery is letting the officials have it from the far sideline. My guess is it has to do with the amount of rough play they are letting go under the Bucknell basket.

With 3:21 to go, the "Warm up the tank" chants start.
Bucknell with three in double figures now: Lee-16, Bettencourt-13, McNaughton 11.

For Army: Bell has 14. Jackson still stuck on 10.

Bucknell 70, Army 47 (FINAL)

Still another injury score for Bucknell. With 2:24 to play, Charles Lee lets out a yelp and grabs the small of his back, just above his right hip. Flannery's ire with the officials results in a T.

Looks like we will not be seeing Jimmy Sewell.

Latest chants: "Navy's better", followed by "Undefeated."

Biggest cheers of the night come with 49.5 to go when Holland Mack scores on a hard-work put back of his own miss. He has two chances for a career high, but misses a free throw, then bricks a three after BU gets the offensive rebound.

Four Bison finish in double figures: Lee with 18, Bettencourt 13, Griffin with 12 thanks to a 6 for 6 night at the foul line and McNaughton with 11.

The crowd on its feet as the clock ticks off. Griffin, after the buzzer, drains a top of the arc three for practice.

Chris Niesz, the lone senior on last year's team, out on the floor to greet his old teammates as they leave the floor.