(Originally posted 8:22 p.m., links added at 8:57 a.m.)In an ideal world for Bucknell, the game at St. Bonaventure would have served as an ideal tune-up for Patriot League play, finish off a softer opponent after a steady diet of tough to chew tests over the holidays. Instead, the Bison got a tough 65-62 loss and a two-game losing streak.
Like most of the season so far, though, things did not work out the way the Bison (5-0) planned them. Instead of a confidence building win to set the tone into league play, the Bison were dealt a tough-to-swallow close loss in a game they led by eight with 6:30 to play.
The key swing came when a Jason Vegotsky three was waved off for a moving screen call. At the time, Bucknell was up 55-49. It could have been a 9-point lead, with about six minutes to go. Instead, it was a lead that evaporated in a hurry when a St. Bonnie offensive rebound at the other end led to a D'Lancy Carter three-point play that ignited a 10-0 Bonnies run.
There were five lead changes in the final four minutes, the last coming with 19 seconds left, when Michael Lee's layup-and-one made it 64=62, St. Bonaventure. Lee added a free throw with 12 seconds to go, but missed one of two to leave the door open.
John Griffin, who was 0 for 6 from the arc, 0 for 7 for the game, missed a contested, would-be-tying three with 2 seconds left. Griffin also missed an open three on BU's next-to-last possession.
Justin Castleberry led Bucknell with a career-high 22 points. Stephen Tyree also had a career-high 10.
Box score | Daily Item | Buffalo News
Labels: Bucknell, games
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