BOSTON – In a rematch of last year's Patriot League quarterfinal thriller, the Boston University men's basketball team will visit preseason favorite Lehigh on Saturday afternoon with tip-off slated for 2 p.m.
The Terriers snapped the Mountain Hawks' eight-game win streak, 88-82, at Stabler Arena to avenge the previous year's 2OT quarterfinal loss to Lehigh at Case Gym.
TERRIER TIDBITS
- BU is currently on a three-game losing streak after rallying from a 14-point deficit to win at Navy ... The Terriers lost a double-digit lead at Loyola Maryland in an OT loss and then fell at home to both Colgate and American.
- The Terriers are shooting a stellar 48.4 FG% in seven conference games but opponents are shooting an even better 50.8 FG% while forcing 20 more turnovers
- All four of junior Max Mahoney's double-doubles this season have occurred at home ... Ranking eighth nationally at 66.5 FG%, he tallied 24 points and 13 rebounds against the Eagles on Wednesday to increase his totals to 17.4 ppg and 6.4 rpg.
- In conference play, Mahoney is averaging 19.4 ppg and 7.3 rpg with both junior Tyler Scanlon (10.9 ppg) and sophomore Javante McCoy (10.7 ppg) averaging double figures.
- Redshirt-freshman Alex Vilarino has started all seven PL contests and is averaging 7.9 ppg while shooting 58.8 FG% ... Freshman Jonas Harper has also been strong in PL action at 7.4 ppg while shooting 13-of-18 3FG (.722).
- Averaging 71.8 ppg, BU is 1-7 this season when held below 70 points, claiming its lone win at Elon (65-58) back on Dec. 1.
SCOUTING LEHIGH
- The Mountain Hawks are 5-2 in conference play with two-point home loss to Bucknell and 13-point loss at Colgate ... Lehigh is 7-1 at home with non-conference wins over Arkansas State, Princeton, St. Francis (Pa.) and Marist.
- Lehigh is the nation's top 3-point shooting team at 45.6 3FG% with 9.9 made 3-pointers per game ... The Mountain Hawks rank 28th at 48.6 FG% and 17th at 76.1 FT% to rank 42nd at 80.4 ppg with the help of 16.3 assists per game (35th).
- On the flip side, Lehigh is allowing 77.4 ppg, 303rd worst in the country and ranks 316th in turnovers forced.
- Pat Andree is one of four in double figures at 15.0 ppg, just ahead of Kyle Leyfroy (14.4 ppg) and Lance Tejada (14.4 ppg) ... Jordan Cohen is the other in double figures at 11.2 ppg, while James Karnik is averaging 7.8 ppg and a team-high 6.2 rpg.
SERIES HISTORY
- The Terriers lead the all-time series, 8-5, after the PL quarterfinal win ... The home teams won during the regular season with BU posting a 92-81 victory at Case Gym and dropping an 80-75 decision at Stabler Arena.
- After BU won the first-ever meeting back in 1968, the teams split in each of BU's first three years in the PL until BU claimed its first-ever regular season sweep in Jan. 2017 ... Lehigh got its revenge by edging the Terriers, 91-88, in double overtime during the 2017 PL semifinals.
- In last year's quarterfinals, BU led 33-30 at the half and shot 63.0 FG% in the second half for the 88-82 win ... Mahoney and McCoy combined for 48 points.
