Jan. 29, 2008

WHAT: Bucknell (9-10, 4-1 PL) vs. Lehigh (10-9, 3-2 PL)
WHERE: Sojka Pavilion, Lewisburg, Pa.
WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008, 7 p.m.
TICKETS: Available (570-577-1000 or order ONLINE)
TV: None
RADIO: Eagle 107 and SportsJuice.com
LIVE VIDEO: Patriot League All-Access
PROMOTIONS: Extreme Slam Dunk Team performs
COMPLETE PRESS NOTES

Probable Starters
Bucknell:
G, 11 John Griffin, Sr., 12.2 ppg
G, 10, Justin Castleberry, Jr., 13.2 ppg
F, 2 Rob Thomas, Sr., 4.3 ppg
F, 15 Stephen Tyree, So., 6.1 ppg
C, 1 Darren Mastropaolo, Sr., 6.4 ppg

Lehigh:
G, 1 Marquis Hall, So., 12.2 ppg
G, 15 Rob Keefer, Fr., 8.0 ppg
G, 35 Matt Szalachowski, Jr., 6.2 ppg
F, 10 Zahir Carrington, So., 12.8 ppg
F, 20 Bryan White, Sr., 10.3 ppg

NOTE: Tickets still remain for the 7 p.m. contest. To purchase tickets in advance, call 570-577-1000, go online to www.bucknell.edu/boxoffice or stop by either of the two Campus Box Office locations at the Weis Center or Bucknell Bookstore. Walk-up sales will begin two hours before game time at the Sojka Pavilion ticket office. Tickets for men's basketball games are $8 for adults and $4 for children and senior citizens.

With a Victory over Lehigh, Bucknell Would ...
-- ... get back to .500 overall at 10-10 and improve to 5-1 in Patriot League play.
-- ... maintain at least a share of first place in the Patriot League.
-- ... win its 39th straight home game against a Patriot League opponent.
-- ... improve to 7-3 at home this season and 56-12 all-time at Sojka Pavilion.
-- ... win its eighth in a row over the Mountain Hawks.

About the Game
Bucknell moved back into a tie for first place in the Patriot League standings over the weekend thanks to a home victory over Colgate and Lehigh's home win over previously unbeaten Lafayette. Now 4-1 in Patriot League play, the Bison face a Mountain Hawks squad that has won three in a row and is now just a game out of first place. Bucknell is averaging 71.4 points per game in league play, while junior guard Justin Castleberry has upped his scoring in recent weeks. Castleberry is averaging 17.6 ppg in the league, and his overall scoring average is up to a team-best 13.2 ppg. John Griffin also scores in double digits at 12.2 ppg. Sophomore forward Zahir Carrington leads the Mountain Hawks in scoring at 12.8 ppg. Sophomore guard Marquis Hall averages 12.2 ppg and senior forward Bryan White averages 10.3 ppg and a Patriot League-best 8.2 rpg. Lehigh went 7-7 in non-league play, then dropped its first two conference games to American and Navy before rallying with three straight wins over Army, Colgate and Lafayette.

How to Get the Game
The Bucknell-Lehigh game will not be televised, however live online video coverage is available via Patriot League All-Access, which is available for $7.95 per month. The game can also be heard locally on Eagle 107 (WEGH 107.3 FM), with Doug Birdsong and Doug Byerly on the call. The pregame show begins 30 minutes before tip-off. The audio feed is available free of charge via BucknellBison.com and SportsJuice.com.

Bucknell vs. Lehigh
Bucknell has played more games (146) and won more games (90) against Lehigh than any other school. The Bison have a 90-56 lead in a series that originated in 1902. Since the start of Patriot League play in 1990-91, Bucknell holds a 31-9 advantage, including a 16-2 mark at home. Lehigh is 1-4 against the Bison at Sojka Pavilion, with the victory coming in the very first game ever played in the new facility, on Jan. 15, 2003 (60-56).

Bucknell vs. Lehigh Last Season
Bucknell swept the season series from Lehigh in 2006-07:
-- On Jan. 23 at Sojka Pavilion, Chris McNaughton tallied 15 points and 11 rebounds and Donald Brown had 15 points and seven boards to lead the Bison to a 62-44 victory. Bucknell held Lehigh to 31.5% shooting and held top two scorers Jose Olivero and Kyle Neptune to a combined 5-for-27. Marquis Hall led the Mountain Hawks with 18 points.
-- On Feb. 21 at Stabler Arena, John Griffin scored 16 points to lead Bucknell to a 69-56 win. McNaughton added 14 points and Abe Badmus had 13 for the Bison, who won their 11th straight game. Bucknell held Lehigh to 32.6% shooting. Olivero and Neptune scored 14 each for the Mountain Hawks.

Last Time Out
It was a game of major momentum swings Saturday night at Sojka Pavilion, and in the end Bucknell held off Colgate 65-61 to move back into a tie for first place in the Patriot League. The Bison shot out of the gates, scoring the game's first 23 points before Colgate finally got on the board 8:35 into the contest. The Raiders got back within 14 by halftime, then used a 19-4 run to draw as close as two at 46-44 with 10:49 to play. But the Bison later scored 11 points in a row to go back up by 14 with 5:43 to play. The Raiders again made things interesting with a late 8-0 run, and the Bison made only 2 of 7 free throws in the final 1:11, including three straight missed front ends of 1-and-1s, but Colgate never had a shot to tie or take the lead.

Inside the Colgate Boxscore
-- During Bucknell's 23-0 game-opening run, the Bison went 8-for-11 from the floor, while Colgate went 0-for-10.
-- Bucknell shot 47.8% overall and 7-for-19 (.368) from 3-point range. The Bison were 6-for-11 from the arc in the first half but 1-for-8 in the second.
-- The Bison struggled in the rebounding department, as Colgate finished with a 44-25 advantage. The Raiders grabbed 21 offensive rebounds, leading to 13 second-chance points.
-- Justin Castleberry finished with 22 points and six rebounds, tying his career high in both categories. He went 8-for-13 from the field and opened the game with back-to-back 3-pointers.
-- John Griffin tied his career high with four steals, in addition to 10 points.
-- G.W. Boon had a solid game off the bench, hitting a pair of threes while scoring eight points.
-- Darryl Shazier made his second straight 3-pointer after opening the season 3-for-27.

Numbers to Watch
Some relevent stats involving Bucknell and Lehigh:
-- Even though Lehigh has attempted the fewest 3-pointers in the Patriot League this season (13.5 attempts per game), the Bison will have to be mindful of its shooters, as the Mountain Hawks have the best 3-point percentage in the league (.410). Rob Keefer (23-45) and Dave Buchberger (15-29) have both made more than half of their 3-point tries.
-- On the other hand, Lehigh allows its opponents to shoot 40.6% from the arc, the highest in the league. After struggling with its shooting consistency early in the season, Bucknell is shooting 40.2% from long distance in Patriot League play.
-- After struggling on the boards last time out against Colgate, the Bison will have to improve in that area against a Lehigh team that averages 10.1 offensive rebounds per game and features the Patriot League's No. 1 rebounder in Bryan White (8.2).
-- These two teams faced three common opponents during non-league play, with differing results in each. Bucknell defeated Cornell at home 88-75, while Lehigh lost to the Big Red 87-83 in Ithaca; Lehigh won at Saint Francis (Pa.) 71-66, while Bucknell lost at home to the Red Flash 57-54; and the Bison topped Albany 55-52 at home, while the Mountain Hawks lost at Albany 78-66. In Patriot League play, Bucknell and Lehigh have both played American, Navy, Colgate and Lafayette. Bucknell is 3-1 in those games, while Lehigh is 2-2.

Senior Class Approaching Victory Record
Bucknell's three-man senior class of John Griffin, Darren Mastropaolo and Rob Thomas won its 82nd game last time out against Colgate, tying it for second all-time with the Class of 1987. Only last year's seniors -- Abe Badmus, Donald Brown and Chris McNaughton -- have more victories.

Class     Wins
1. 2007   87
2. 1987   82
   2008   82
4. 2006   79
5. 1989   78

Patriot League Success
The Bison are 159-70 (.694) in Patriot League regular-season games, the best record of any league team. They have finished at least .500 in PL play in 15 of 17 seasons. The Bison won a league-record 23 straight contests against conference foes from Feb. 23, 2005 to Jan. 12, 2007. Bucknell has an active streak of 38 straight wins at home against conference opponents, with their last home league loss coming on March 2, 2003 against Colgate.

Vegotsky No. 2 in career PL 3-Point Accuracy
Having recently made his 100th career 3-point field goal, Jason Vegotsky became eligible for the Patriot League career list for 3-point percentage. He debuted at No. 1 on the list, but after missing his only attempt against Colgate, he slipped percentage points behind Army's Andy Smith. Vegotsky also ranks fifth on Bucknell's list.

Patriot League Career 3-Point Field Goal Pct.
1. Andy Smith (Army 2000-03)             .424
2. Jason Vegotsky (Bucknell 2005-pres.)  .423
3. Keith Simmons (Holy Cross 2003-07)    .419
4. Jarell Brown (Army 2004-pres.)        .415
5. Nate O'Neil (Colgate 1990-94)         .414
Bucknell Career 3-Point Field Goal Pct.
1. Chris Seneca (1983-87)                .475
2. Mike Joseph (1986-90)                 .474
3. Bo Heiden (1985-89)                   .431
4. Ted Aceto (1985-89)                   .426
5. Jason Vegotsky (2005-pres.)           .423

Griffin Moves into Top 4 on 3-Point FG List
John Griffin now has 181 career 3-pointers, good for fourth-most in Bucknell history. Next up on the list is Mike Joseph at 183. Griffin has multiple 3-pointers in 11 of 19 games this season.

Bucknell Career 3-Point Field Goals
1. Kevin Bettencourt (2002-06)     294
2. Mike Bright (1989-93)           206
3. Mike Joseph (1986-90)           183
4. John Griffin (2004-pres.)       181
5. J.R. Holden (1994-98)           180

Who's Got Next?
Bucknell's three-game homestand wraps up on Super Bowl Sunday, when the Bison host Army at Sojka Pavilion (12 p.m., ESPNU). The Bison carry a 15-game winning streak against the Black Knights, who defeated arch-rival Navy on Sunday in Annapolis. Army is 9-10 overall, 2-3 in the Patriot League heading into Wednesday night's game at Lafayette.