BETHLEHEM?(AP) - Bryson Johnson scored 19 points as Bucknell defeated Lehigh 61-55 Monday night to gain sole possession of first place in the Patriot League.
Johnson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to break a 37-37 tie, and Mike Muscala added a three-point play to give the Bison (22-5, 9-2) a 46-37 lead with 10:18 remaining.
Bucknell's lead reached 11 points, but a three-point play and two additional baskets by Holden Greiner brought the Mountain Hawks (18-7, 8-3) within 52-48.
Lehigh trailed just 58-55 after Anthony D'Orazio's jumper with 51 seconds left, but Cameron Ayers' layup increased Bucknell's lead to five at the 0:13 mark.
When the teams met on Jan. 23, Lehigh made 10 of 18 3-pointers in winning 65-62. This time the Mountain Hawks made just 1 of 15 from long range.
BUCKNELL (22-5)
Willman 3-9 0-0 6, Muscala 3-9 6-7 12, Hill 1-1 0-1 2, Johnson 6-13 4-4 19, Ayers 3-8 1-4 8, Kaspar 0-2 0-0 0, Fitzpatrick 3-4 0-0 6, Frazier 1-5 0-1 2, Brackney 2-3 0-0 6, Hoffman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-54 11-17 61.
LEHIGH (18-7)
Greiner 8-15 1-1 17, Knutson 3-10 2-5 8, DOrazio 3-11 0-0 6, Bailey 1-3 0-0 3, McKnight 8-18 1-4 17, Schaefer 0-1 0-0 0, Cvrkalj 1-2 2-3 4, Goldsborough 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 24-60 6-15 55.
Halftime-Lehigh 24-23. 3-Point Goals-Bucknell 6-17 (Johnson 3-8, Brackney 2-2, Ayers 1-1, Muscala 0-1, Kaspar 0-1, Frazier 0-4), Lehigh 1-15 (Bailey 1-1, Cvrkalj 0-1, Greiner 0-2, Knutson 0-3, McKnight 0-4, DOrazio 0-4). Fouled Out-Goldsborough. Rebounds-Bucknell 42 (Fitzpatrick 10), Lehigh 35 (Greiner 7). Assists-Bucknell 15 (Kaspar 7), Lehigh 10 (Greiner 4). Total Fouls-Bucknell 14, Lehigh 16. A-3,774.
