The AU men’s basketball team remains undefeated in the Patriot League season as the Eagles narrowly beat Lehigh 65-63 in Bethlehem, Pa. on Jan. 15. This is the first time the team has had a 5-0 start in history.
AU (9-7, 5-0 PL) started the first half strong, widening their lead to 30-16 with 4:12 remaining in the half. However, Lehigh (8-10, 1-4 PL) countered the Eagles with a 10-1 run, decreasing AU’s lead to only five points with a 31-26 score at the break.
The second half had several changes of momentum, with the lead changing four times as Lehigh guard Mackey McKnight scored 14 points in the half, pacing the Lehigh offense.
Down the stretch, a series of AU three-pointers would be the difference makers with junior guard Jesse Reed coming through with a pair of three pointers in the final two minutes to break a tie at 57.
However, Lehigh would not give up as senior guard McKnight made a three-pointer with six seconds left to bring the game within two points.
In the end, it was AU’s defense that sealed the win as they closed out the narrow 65-63 victory.
This game was an all-around team effort with both the offense and defense performing well. The points leader for AU was junior guard John Schoof, scoring 23 points on 9-14 shooting and five three pointers. He also recorded six rebounds and two assists.
Senior center Tony Wroblicky also had an impressive game, scoring 14 points including a crucial pair of free throws to close out the game. He also recorded 12 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.
Reed also recorded double digit points, scoring 15. Junior point guard Darius Gardner led AU in assists; recording a career high 11 along with six rebounds.
For Lehigh, the points and assists leader was McKnight with 23 points and 10 assists. Tim Kempton led Lehigh in rebounds with 10.
One key to AU’s victory was their dominant inside game, scoring 32 points in the paint, nearly doubling Lehigh’s 18. They also had a higher field goal percentage, 45.6 to Lehigh’s 40 percent, continuing a trend that has led to AU being ranked seventh in the nation in field goal percentage at a season mark of 49.9 percent.
The next game for AU will be Jan. 18 in Bender Arena against Lafayette.
