WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army men's basketball team finishes its regular-season slate Saturday night against Bucknell. The game was originally scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m., but was moved back to 7 p.m. because of the recent snowstorm in the Northeast.
An Army victory would clinch the program’s first winning season since the 1984-85 team posted a 16-13 record.
Army is trying to climb out of the No. 8 seed for the upcoming Patriot League Tournament. A loss today would guarantee the Black Knights would take a trip to the tournament’s top seed. while a win and some help could push the Black Knights into the seventh seed. Army has won its quarterfinal game in each of the last three seasons, upsetting the higher seed twice. All three games were against Lehigh, a potential opponent again this season.
The Army Sports Network will broadcast the Bucknell game. The game will be heard in the Hudson Valley on WALL (1340-AM, Middletown) and WEOK (1390-AM, Poughkeepsie). Rich DeMarco (play-by-play) and Bob Beretta (analyst) will call the action from Christl Arena.
A live video stream will be available online via the ITT Knight Vision package on www.goARMYsports.com.
ARMY QUICK HITTERS
The Black Knights are trying to avoid their first 8th-place finish since the 2005-06 season. An Army victory coupled with losses by Colgate (vs. Navy) and Holy Cross (vs. Lehigh) would put the Black Knights into seventh place after breaking a three-way tie between the Black Knights, Raiders and Mids. If either Holy Cross or Colgate win, Army will be the eighth seed regardless of Saturday’s outcome.
Senior F Cleveland Richard made two steals in Wednesday night’s loss to Lafayette to pass classmate Josh Miller for the Academy career record. Miller broke the record earlier this season, but Richard now owns the mark with 148 career steals. Miller is one behind at 147. Offensively, Richard scored 10 points versus the Leopards, his career-best eighth straight game in double figures.
Senior G Tyrell Thompson scored a career-high 18 points against Lafayette. Thompson shot 8 for 13 from the field and tied his career best with two three-pointers. Since being inserted into the starting lineup at American, Thompson is averaging 12.0 points per game and shooting 53.8 percent (14-26) in the last three games.
Saturday is the final home game for Army’s seven seniors — Josh Miller, Marcus Nelson, Cleveland Richard, Jon Sizemore, Tyrell Thompson, Chris Walker and Eric Zastoupil. The group has posted the most wins over a four-year period (54) since the class of 1979. They have helped Army advance to the Patriot League semifinals in each of the last three seasons, a program first. One week ago, the class scored a win over Navy in the Star Game for the first time since 2002, and has defeated the Mids once in each of their four seasons. Individually, the group features Army’s all-time leader in steals (Richard) and blocked shots (Nelson). Both those players also hold the Army single-game record in those respective categories.
After its 80-54 loss to Lafayette, the Black Knights are 1-13 this season when allowing more than 60 points, including an 0-8 mark when opponents score at least 70 points. Army has lost 19 straight when giving up at least 80 points.
ABOUT BUCKNELL
Bucknell is coming off an 81-59 loss to Lehigh on Wednesday. The two teams entered the game tied for first place in the league standings. Mike Muscala led the Bison with 14 points in the loss, while Bryson Johnson chipped in 10 markers.
Bucknell can still gain a share of the conference regular-season title with a win on Saturday and a Holy Cross win over Lehigh, but would most likely lose out on the tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed.
While the Bison only have one player averaging in double figures, eight different players are scoring at least five points per game. Muscala is the team’s top scorer at 10.1 points per game. Darryl Shazier, Patrick Behan and Bryan Cohen are next on the list at 9.5, 9.3 and 9.3 points per game, respectively. As a team, the Bison score 67.3 points per game. Stephen Tyree is the team’s top rebounder with 5.1 boards per game. Johnson is the team’s top three-point threat with 59 triples. The Bison are the only team ranked below Army in both three-point percentage (.324).
THE ARMY-BUCKNELL SERIES
Bucknell leads the all-time series with the Black Knights, 38-18. The Bison’s win in Lewisburg earlier this season snapped Army’s four-game winning streak in the series.
Army’s win in Lewisburg on Feb. 3, 2008 snapped a 15-game losing streak against Bucknell and was Army’s first win in Sojka Pavilion.
Army won the first 10 meetings in the series before the Bison earned a 79-77 win during the 1988-89 season. Since the start of Patriot League play, the Bison are 37-8 versus Army.
INSIDE THE SERIES
First Meeting: 1929 (Army, 35-34)
All-Time Record: Bucknell leads, 37-18
At West Point: Bucknell leads, 15-7 (since 1964-65)
At Bucknell: Bucknell leads, 19-4 (since 1964-65)
At Neutral Site: Bucknell leads, 3-0
Last Army Win: Feb. 28, 2009 (70-53 at Bucknell)
Last Bucknell Win: Jan. 30, 2010 (55-48 at Bucknell)
Series Streak: Bucknell W1
Largest Army Margin: +46 (84-38, 1965-66)
Largest Bucknell Margin: +50 (75-25, 2/22/04)
A WIN VS. BUCKNELL WOULD ...
• Be Army’s 15th win of the season, equaling its highest win total since the 1984-85 season. The 2006-07 team also won 15 games (15-16).
• Clinch the Black Knights’ first winning season since the 1984-85 team went 16-13.
• Be Army’s 11th home win of the season, the most ever in Christl Arena and the most in program history since the 1969-70 squad won 13 games at West Point.
• Mark the first time since joining the conference in 1990 that Army won at least five Patriot League games in three straight seasons.
LAST TIME: BUCKNELL 55, ARMY 48 (JAN. 30, 2010)
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Army went 10 minutes and 13 seconds in the second half without a field goal and scored just eight points in the final 8:33 as Bucknell pulled away for a 55-48 victory.
The loss snapped Army’s 11-game winning streak when allowing less than 60 points. It was the fewest points allowed in a loss since a 55-53 defeat at Colgate on Feb. 7, 2009.
The game was tied at halftime, and the Black Knights scored the first five points of the second half, but an 11-2 Bucknell run put the Bison on top for good. Julian Simmons pulled Army within two points at 39-37 with 10:22 left, but the Black Knights missed their next 12 shots. Simmons’ bucket with just under 12 seconds left stopped the 10-plus minute field goal drought.
Cleveland Richard led the Black Knights with 15 points, while Simmons added 11 markers. Richard and Marcus Nelson tied for the team lead with seven rebounds each.
Mike Muscala was the only Bucknell player in double figures with 13 points. Bryan Cohen scored nine markers, while G.W. Boon had eight points and a game-high eight rebounds.
Army finished the game at a season-low 31.1 percent from the floor, including a 6-for-26 effort in the second half (.231). It was the team’s 12th straight loss when shooting 33.3 percent or less.
The first half featured nine ties and six lead changes. Neither team led by more than four points during the first 20 minutes. Joe Willman stroked a jumper to push the Bison on top 26-24, but two free throws by Jeremy Hence with 10.6 seconds left ended the first-half scoring and sent the teams into the locker room tied at 26-26.
The Black Knights came out of the gate in the second half with five straight points, but the Bison countered with an 11-2 run to take a 37-33 lead with 12:38 left on the clock. Three foul shots by Richard pulled the Black Knights within one at 41-40 with 8:33 left, but Bucknell scored eight of the next nine points to take a 49-41 with 3:08 remaining. Army got within six on one occasion, but would not draw any closer in the second half. Bucknell led by as many as nine points in the closing minutes.
VETERAN'S DAY
Army’s roster features seven seniors, five of which started the season opener at VMI. It is the Black Knights’ most veteran squad since the 2001-02 team also had seven seniors on the roster.
Six of the seven seniors have started at least once this season. The Army seniors have combined for 64.5 percent of the team’s scoring and 65.1 percent of the squad’s rebounds through 27 games.
WINDOW DRESSING
Army has outrebounded 13 of its 27 opponents in 2009-10, surpassing last season’s total of five positive rebounding efforts in 30 games. Army is fifth in the Patriot League with a -0.3 rebounding margin after finishing last in the conference at -5.7 rebounds per game in 2008-09.
Army’s +16 rebounding edge versus Mount Saint Vincent was its highest rebounding margin since holding a +17 advantage versus VMI on Dec. 1, 2007. Army is 12-2 since the start of the 2006-07 season when holding a double-digit rebounding edge.
Army is 23-8 in its last 31 outings when they win the rebounding battle. The Black Knights are 16-39 in their last 55 games when on the opposite side of the ledger.
WALK THE LINE
Since the start of the 2007-08 season, Army is 25-14 when getting to the line at least 15 times and are 18-7 when making at least 13 free throws.
In its 13 losses this season, Army has been outshot at the foul line, 254-137 (-117). The Black Knights’ combined margin of defeat in those games is 137 points.
Army has shown a marked improvement from the foul line in recent games. Through 11 outings, the Black Knights shot 60.8 percent (132-217). In the last 16 games, Army has made 69.1 percent of its free throws (163-236).
Despite the recent success, the Black Knights are still last in the Patriot League at 65.1 percent (295-453) for the season.
UP NEXT ...
Army will hit the road for the Patriot League quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 3. The opponent will be determined on Saturday.
An Army victory would clinch the program’s first winning season since the 1984-85 team posted a 16-13 record.
Army is trying to climb out of the No. 8 seed for the upcoming Patriot League Tournament. A loss today would guarantee the Black Knights would take a trip to the tournament’s top seed. while a win and some help could push the Black Knights into the seventh seed. Army has won its quarterfinal game in each of the last three seasons, upsetting the higher seed twice. All three games were against Lehigh, a potential opponent again this season.
The Army Sports Network will broadcast the Bucknell game. The game will be heard in the Hudson Valley on WALL (1340-AM, Middletown) and WEOK (1390-AM, Poughkeepsie). Rich DeMarco (play-by-play) and Bob Beretta (analyst) will call the action from Christl Arena.
A live video stream will be available online via the ITT Knight Vision package on www.goARMYsports.com.
ARMY QUICK HITTERS
The Black Knights are trying to avoid their first 8th-place finish since the 2005-06 season. An Army victory coupled with losses by Colgate (vs. Navy) and Holy Cross (vs. Lehigh) would put the Black Knights into seventh place after breaking a three-way tie between the Black Knights, Raiders and Mids. If either Holy Cross or Colgate win, Army will be the eighth seed regardless of Saturday’s outcome.
Senior F Cleveland Richard made two steals in Wednesday night’s loss to Lafayette to pass classmate Josh Miller for the Academy career record. Miller broke the record earlier this season, but Richard now owns the mark with 148 career steals. Miller is one behind at 147. Offensively, Richard scored 10 points versus the Leopards, his career-best eighth straight game in double figures.
Senior G Tyrell Thompson scored a career-high 18 points against Lafayette. Thompson shot 8 for 13 from the field and tied his career best with two three-pointers. Since being inserted into the starting lineup at American, Thompson is averaging 12.0 points per game and shooting 53.8 percent (14-26) in the last three games.
Saturday is the final home game for Army’s seven seniors — Josh Miller, Marcus Nelson, Cleveland Richard, Jon Sizemore, Tyrell Thompson, Chris Walker and Eric Zastoupil. The group has posted the most wins over a four-year period (54) since the class of 1979. They have helped Army advance to the Patriot League semifinals in each of the last three seasons, a program first. One week ago, the class scored a win over Navy in the Star Game for the first time since 2002, and has defeated the Mids once in each of their four seasons. Individually, the group features Army’s all-time leader in steals (Richard) and blocked shots (Nelson). Both those players also hold the Army single-game record in those respective categories.
After its 80-54 loss to Lafayette, the Black Knights are 1-13 this season when allowing more than 60 points, including an 0-8 mark when opponents score at least 70 points. Army has lost 19 straight when giving up at least 80 points.
ABOUT BUCKNELL
Bucknell is coming off an 81-59 loss to Lehigh on Wednesday. The two teams entered the game tied for first place in the league standings. Mike Muscala led the Bison with 14 points in the loss, while Bryson Johnson chipped in 10 markers.
Bucknell can still gain a share of the conference regular-season title with a win on Saturday and a Holy Cross win over Lehigh, but would most likely lose out on the tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed.
While the Bison only have one player averaging in double figures, eight different players are scoring at least five points per game. Muscala is the team’s top scorer at 10.1 points per game. Darryl Shazier, Patrick Behan and Bryan Cohen are next on the list at 9.5, 9.3 and 9.3 points per game, respectively. As a team, the Bison score 67.3 points per game. Stephen Tyree is the team’s top rebounder with 5.1 boards per game. Johnson is the team’s top three-point threat with 59 triples. The Bison are the only team ranked below Army in both three-point percentage (.324).
THE ARMY-BUCKNELL SERIES
Bucknell leads the all-time series with the Black Knights, 38-18. The Bison’s win in Lewisburg earlier this season snapped Army’s four-game winning streak in the series.
Army’s win in Lewisburg on Feb. 3, 2008 snapped a 15-game losing streak against Bucknell and was Army’s first win in Sojka Pavilion.
Army won the first 10 meetings in the series before the Bison earned a 79-77 win during the 1988-89 season. Since the start of Patriot League play, the Bison are 37-8 versus Army.
INSIDE THE SERIES
First Meeting: 1929 (Army, 35-34)
All-Time Record: Bucknell leads, 37-18
At West Point: Bucknell leads, 15-7 (since 1964-65)
At Bucknell: Bucknell leads, 19-4 (since 1964-65)
At Neutral Site: Bucknell leads, 3-0
Last Army Win: Feb. 28, 2009 (70-53 at Bucknell)
Last Bucknell Win: Jan. 30, 2010 (55-48 at Bucknell)
Series Streak: Bucknell W1
Largest Army Margin: +46 (84-38, 1965-66)
Largest Bucknell Margin: +50 (75-25, 2/22/04)
A WIN VS. BUCKNELL WOULD ...
• Be Army’s 15th win of the season, equaling its highest win total since the 1984-85 season. The 2006-07 team also won 15 games (15-16).
• Clinch the Black Knights’ first winning season since the 1984-85 team went 16-13.
• Be Army’s 11th home win of the season, the most ever in Christl Arena and the most in program history since the 1969-70 squad won 13 games at West Point.
• Mark the first time since joining the conference in 1990 that Army won at least five Patriot League games in three straight seasons.
LAST TIME: BUCKNELL 55, ARMY 48 (JAN. 30, 2010)
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Army went 10 minutes and 13 seconds in the second half without a field goal and scored just eight points in the final 8:33 as Bucknell pulled away for a 55-48 victory.
The loss snapped Army’s 11-game winning streak when allowing less than 60 points. It was the fewest points allowed in a loss since a 55-53 defeat at Colgate on Feb. 7, 2009.
The game was tied at halftime, and the Black Knights scored the first five points of the second half, but an 11-2 Bucknell run put the Bison on top for good. Julian Simmons pulled Army within two points at 39-37 with 10:22 left, but the Black Knights missed their next 12 shots. Simmons’ bucket with just under 12 seconds left stopped the 10-plus minute field goal drought.
Cleveland Richard led the Black Knights with 15 points, while Simmons added 11 markers. Richard and Marcus Nelson tied for the team lead with seven rebounds each.
Mike Muscala was the only Bucknell player in double figures with 13 points. Bryan Cohen scored nine markers, while G.W. Boon had eight points and a game-high eight rebounds.
Army finished the game at a season-low 31.1 percent from the floor, including a 6-for-26 effort in the second half (.231). It was the team’s 12th straight loss when shooting 33.3 percent or less.
The first half featured nine ties and six lead changes. Neither team led by more than four points during the first 20 minutes. Joe Willman stroked a jumper to push the Bison on top 26-24, but two free throws by Jeremy Hence with 10.6 seconds left ended the first-half scoring and sent the teams into the locker room tied at 26-26.
The Black Knights came out of the gate in the second half with five straight points, but the Bison countered with an 11-2 run to take a 37-33 lead with 12:38 left on the clock. Three foul shots by Richard pulled the Black Knights within one at 41-40 with 8:33 left, but Bucknell scored eight of the next nine points to take a 49-41 with 3:08 remaining. Army got within six on one occasion, but would not draw any closer in the second half. Bucknell led by as many as nine points in the closing minutes.
VETERAN'S DAY
Army’s roster features seven seniors, five of which started the season opener at VMI. It is the Black Knights’ most veteran squad since the 2001-02 team also had seven seniors on the roster.
Six of the seven seniors have started at least once this season. The Army seniors have combined for 64.5 percent of the team’s scoring and 65.1 percent of the squad’s rebounds through 27 games.
WINDOW DRESSING
Army has outrebounded 13 of its 27 opponents in 2009-10, surpassing last season’s total of five positive rebounding efforts in 30 games. Army is fifth in the Patriot League with a -0.3 rebounding margin after finishing last in the conference at -5.7 rebounds per game in 2008-09.
Army’s +16 rebounding edge versus Mount Saint Vincent was its highest rebounding margin since holding a +17 advantage versus VMI on Dec. 1, 2007. Army is 12-2 since the start of the 2006-07 season when holding a double-digit rebounding edge.
Army is 23-8 in its last 31 outings when they win the rebounding battle. The Black Knights are 16-39 in their last 55 games when on the opposite side of the ledger.
WALK THE LINE
Since the start of the 2007-08 season, Army is 25-14 when getting to the line at least 15 times and are 18-7 when making at least 13 free throws.
In its 13 losses this season, Army has been outshot at the foul line, 254-137 (-117). The Black Knights’ combined margin of defeat in those games is 137 points.
Army has shown a marked improvement from the foul line in recent games. Through 11 outings, the Black Knights shot 60.8 percent (132-217). In the last 16 games, Army has made 69.1 percent of its free throws (163-236).
Despite the recent success, the Black Knights are still last in the Patriot League at 65.1 percent (295-453) for the season.
UP NEXT ...
Army will hit the road for the Patriot League quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 3. The opponent will be determined on Saturday.
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