ITT Knight Vision Video Preview
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - For the fourth straight season, Army and Lehigh will square off in the quarterfinal round of the Patriot League Tournament. Tip-off at Stabler Arena is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
Wednesday is the third time in those four meetings that the game will be played on the Mountain Hawks’ home floor. The Black Knights have won each of the previous three meetings, all of which have been decided by three points or less.
Army is trying to become the first Patriot League team to win a game as the No. 8 seed. The top-seeded team has advanced to the championship game in each of the previous 19 tournaments, winning the last four championships. Since 2002, there have been two near upsets in the 1-8 game. In 2004, Lehigh survived a 62-60 overtime decision versus Navy, while in 2008 American hung on for a 62-60 win over Holy Cross.
The Army Sports Network will broadcast the Lehigh 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 Stabler Arena.
A live audio stream will be available online via the ITT Knight Vision package on www.goARMYsports.com. A live video stream can be seen online through Patriot League All-Access on www.patriotleague.com.
ARMY QUICK HITTERS
The Black Knights are trying to break out of an offensive funk over their last two regular-season games. After its 69-50 win over Navy on Feb.20, Army averaged 52.5 points per game in its last two outings. The Black Knights shot just 36 for 101 (.356) during that span, including a 10-for-35 (.286) mark from three-point range.
Army is struggling in recent games from three-point range. In the last four games, Army is just 18 for 62 (.290) from behind the arc. The Black Knights are 8-3 this season when shooting at least 35.0 percent from deep and 6-11 when below that mark.
Senior G Josh Miller scored 10 of his 11 points against Bucknell in the final one minute, 20 seconds. Miller was 4 for 4, including two three-pointers during the run. He started the game 0 for 5 from the field. It was Miller’s first double-digit scoring game since Jan. 20 against American. He had scored a total of 11 points in his previous four games.
Miller has been a thorn in the Mountain Hawks’ side during postseason play. As a plebe, Miller scored the game-winning basket at the buzzer in Army’s 47-46 win at Stabler Arena. The following year he nearly pullled off his first career double-double with a career-high 25 points and nine rebounds in Army’s come-from-behind overtime win. He scored 19 of his points after halftime, leading the Black Knights back from a seven-point deficit with less than four minutes to go. Last season, he made two free throws to give Army a three-point lead with 25 seconds left in its 53-50 win at Christl Arena.
Senior G Marcus Nelson made two steals against Bucknell to run his career total to 143. Nelson and classmates Cleveland Richard (148) and Josh Miller (147) have all equaled or surpassed the old career steals mark of 143 set by George Tatum in 1999.
ABOUT LEHIGH
Top-seeded Lehigh won the Patriot League regular-season championship with a 10-4 conference record. The Mountain Hawks are going for their 20th win of the season on Saturday (19-10).
Lehigh was the most decorated team in the league on the recently-released All-Patriot League teams. Four players earned either first, second or all-rookie Team accolades, including freshman CJ McCollum. McCollum became the first player in league history to be named both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year in the same season. He was also a first-team and all-rookie choice. Seniors Marquis Hall, the preseason player of the year, and Zahir Carrington were second-team All-Patriot League selections. Gabe Knutson joined McCollum on the rookie squad.
McCollum is the team’s top scorer at 18.8 points per game overall and led the league during conference play at 23.5 points per game. Hall (11.3), Carrington (10.5) and Knutson (10.0) are all averaging in double figures. Carrington is the team’s top rebounder at 6.5 boards per game. Lehigh leads the league 75.4 points per game and have scored at least 75 points in 10 straight games.
THE ARMY-LEHIGH SERIES
Army leads the all-time series, 59-31, including a forfeit win in 2004-05. The rivalry dates back to the 1906-07 season.
While the Black Knights controlled the series early, the Mountain Hawks have won 13 of the last 19. Lehigh leads the series 26-17 since the start of Patriot League play in 1990-91.
Army has eliminated Lehigh from the Patriot League Tournament in each of the last three seasons. In the 2007 and 2008 postseason, Army won at Stabler Arena, while the 2009 game was played at West Point.
While Army has won its last two Patriot League Tournament games at Stabler Arena, the Black Knights have lost eight straight regular season games in Bethlehem.
Two of the last six meetings, have been decided in overtime, both Army victories.
INSIDE THE SERIES
First Meeting: 1906-07 (Lehigh, 26-24)
All-Time Record: Army leads, 59-31
At West Point: Army leads, 29-12 (since ‘54-55)
At Lehigh: Lehigh leads, 16-9 (since ‘54-55)
At Neutral Site: N/A
Last Army Win: March 4, 2009 (53-50 at Army)
Last Lehigh Win: Feb. 13, 2010 (78-66 at Lehigh)
Series Streak: Lehigh W2
Largest Army Margin: +60 (88-28, 1948)
Largest Lehigh Margin: +26 (75-49, 2/6/00)
A WIN VS. LEHIGH 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).
• Be the fourth straight season Army has defeated Lehigh in the Patriot League quarterfinals.
• Mark the first time in league history that the eighth seed won a game in the postseason.
• Be Army’s third straight postseason win at Stabler Arena.
• Avoid dropping Army below the .500 mark for the first time since being 0-1.
• Assure Army of its first .500-or-better finish since the 1984-85 team went 16-13.
LAST TIME: LEHIGH 78, ARMY 66 (FEB. 13, 2010)
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – CJ McCollum scored 33 points to lead Lehigh to a 78-66 victory over Army. The Black Knights outscored Lehigh 39-33 in the second half, but could not overcome a 22-point first-half deficit.
The Black Knights trailed by 19 with 10:03 left, but fought back to get within 10 points. Army held the Mountain Hawks without a field goal for the final 5:46, but they were able to score their final 10 points from the free throw line. Army went four minutes, 16 seconds between field goals before Jason Pancoe tipped in a rebound with 32.6 seconds left for the Black Knights’ final points.
Jeremy Hence scored a career-best 14 points, including 11 in the second half. Hence scored nine consecutive points during one stretch of Army’s comeback attempt. Julian Simmons and Cleveland Richard added 13 and 11 points, respectively. Pancoe posted a career-high nine markers, the first points of his career. Mitch McDonald played 19 minutes, including most of the second half, and posted career highs with six assists and four steals while committing just two turnovers.
McCollum made 11 of his 17 shot attempts, including a 6-for-9 showing from three-point range. Marquis Hall added 14 points, eight assists, five rebounds and two steals.
The Army bench, led by Hence and Pancoe, scored a season-high 41 points. The Black Knights’ starters accounted for only 25 points, 24 of which came from Simmons and Richard. The Army starting five shot 8 for 20 with three players not making a field goal.
Lehigh took control early, jumping out to a 16-3 lead with 13:32 left on the first-half clock. Army closed within 10 at 18-8 after a Simmons jumper, but the Mountain Hawks answered with another 9-0 spurt to take a 27-8 advantage with 9:19 left. The Mountain Hawks opened up a 45-23 lead with 1:10 to go in the opening period before the Black Knights scored the final four points of the half sending Army into the locker room down 45-27.
POSSESSION IS NINE-TENTHS
Army committed an Academy-record 34 turnovers in season-opening loss at VMI. Conversely, Army had a season-low five turnovers against Brown.
In its 14 wins, Army is averaging 13.7 turnovers per game with a +4.3 turnover margin. In the 14 losses, the Black Knights are turning it over 15.9 times per game and are +0.6 in turnover margin. Army is 9-4 when committing less than 15 turnovers and 5-10 when turning it over at least 15 times.
Army leads the conference in turnover margin at +2.46. Army is forcing a league-leading 17.3 turnovers per contest.
STEALING THE SHOW
Army has recorded its highest three steals totals in each of the past three seasons. The 2007-08 squad set an Academy record with 259 swipes, while this year’s team is second with 232, eight more than last season’s total of 224 steals.
This season’s 8.3 steals per game ranks 34th in the nation.
The Black Knights have three of the Patriot League’s top six ranked players in steals. Senior F Cleveland Richard is second in the league with 49 (1.8/game) while classmate Josh Miller is fifth with 42 (1.5/g). Senior G Marcus Nelson is sixth at 1.4 steals per game.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Army’s 67-64 win at Holy Cross marked the Black Knights’ only victory of the season when giving up more than 60 points.
Army is 13-2 when limiting foes to 59 points or less and 1-12 when allowing them to reach the 60-point mark.
Dating back to last season, Army has kept its foes to 61-or-less points in 21 of its last 34 games, posting an 16-5 record in those 21 outings.
Army leads the Patriot League, allowing 60.9 points per game. The Black Knights were 24th in the nation in the latest NCAA statistical rankings (Feb. 28).
After the home loss to Lafayette, Army is 2-26 in its last 28 games when allowing 70-or-more points and have lost 19 straight when giving up at least 80 points. The Black Knights gave up 71 points in its win over Navy last season, snapping an 18-game losing streak when opponents reach the 70-point plateau.
UP NEXT ...
The winner of Wednesday's game will meet the winner of the No. 5 American at No. 4 Navy quarterfinal. Lehigh is assured of playing all of its league tournament games at home, while Army will be on the road for the length of its postseason run.
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