Boston University coach Joe Jones anticipated one other “war” when the Lehigh Mountain Hawks arrived at Case gymnasium for Sunday’s Patriot League semifinal.
Jones acquired his battle however this one didn’t go BU’s manner. No. 6 seed Lehigh recovered from an 18-point first half deficit and outscored No. 2 BU 14-9 in extra time to drag out an 84-79 victory.
BU swept the collection within the common season however the two video games had been determined by three factors. The Terriers edged the Mountain Hawks 72-71 at house on Feb. 3 and prevailed 64-62 in extra time at Lehigh on Feb. 28.
Lehigh (14-17, 10-9) superior to the Patriot League championship sport and can face No. 1 seed Colgate (24-9, 17-2) on Wednesday night time at Cotterell Court in Hamilton, N.Y.
“That was one no one deserved to lose,” mentioned Jones. “We’ve had some epic battles and I knew they weren’t going to give up.
“The mental part of the game kind of changes when they are coming after you. I wasn’t surprised they got back in the game, they are a good team.”
Lehigh shot 40% from the ground with 12 made 3-point photographs, 36 rebounds and 10 assists. Freshman guard Cam Gillus made six 3-point photographs for a sport excessive 30 factors whereas junior guard Tyler Whitney-Sidney netted 21 with 10 from the road. BU shot 45.6% from the ground with 16 made 3-point photographs, 37 rebounds and 18 assists. Senior guard Anthony Morales led BU with a profession excessive 27 factors.
Lehigh regrouped in the course of the break and opened the second with an 8-3 surge to make it 49-36 on the first media timeout. The Terriers harm themselves with poor shot choice whereas Lehigh proceed to power turnovers to increase the run. Lehigh junior guard Keith Higgins made two from the road to chop the result in 49-42 with 13:52 to play.
Gillus hit back-to-back treys to chop BU’s result in 52-48 with 10:22 to play. Forward Bube Momah transformed a 3-point play and Higgins hit a jumper to present Lehigh its first lead, 55-54, with 7:22 to play.
Gillus hit two from downtown and Higgins added one other on the finish of the shot clock to present Lehigh a 64-59 lead with 4:17 to play. Nico Nobili scored on a dunk and Morales adopted with a nook trey to place BU up 69-68 with 1:06 to play. BU’s Miles Brewster had an opportunity to ice the sport however missed his second free throw with 3.9 seconds and the half ended tied at 70.
“We had our chances to win but we couldn’t seal it,” mentioned Jones. “We had a chance to end it but couldn’t do it and the kid Gillus was outstanding.”
Lehigh opened a 76-72 lead at the beginning of OT, however BU tied the sport on a drive by Nobili with 2:23 to play. Junior guard Tyler Whitney-Sidney put the sport with a floater, a left-handed hook on the baseline and 4 free throws.
“He is a first team all-league player,” mentioned Jones. “He is as good as any guard in this league and he’s a got high major athleticism and quickness and skill level. He’s a tough dude to guard.”
Kyrone Alexander buried the Terriers’ first shot, a 3-ball from the proper nook, after which proceeded to overlook 4 straight from behind the arc. Morales entered the sport at 17:10 and hit two straight from downtown and banked one off the glass to present the Terriers a 15-5 lead on the first media timeout.
Freshman guard Michael McNair entered the fray and sank two treys to up BU’s result in 21-10 on the second media timeout. The Terriers’ protection remained locked down whereas the 3-balls continued to fall, giving BU a 29-15 lead into the third media timeout. BU made 11 trifectas from six completely different shooters to take a 46-28 lead on the break.
Source: www.bostonherald.com