Feb. 13, 2005
Box Score
WEST POINT, N.Y. (www.lafayette.edu) - Sean Knitter scored a season-high 21 points and made two free throws with 5.5 seconds left as Lafayette escaped Army's Christl Arena with a 76-73 win in Patriot League men's basketball on Sunday afternoon.
Matt Bell (30 points) and Cory Sinning (20 points) combined to score 41 of Army's 50 points after halftime. Bell hit a jumper with 59 seconds left to cut Lafayette's lead to 72-70. Knitter, who had 19 of his 21 in the second half, scored with 34 seconds to go to push the Leopards' edge to four.
Bell missed a shot in the lane on the Black Knights' possession and fouled Marcus Harley with 13 seconds left, but the sophomore missed both foul shots. Bell drew contact while shooting from long range and made all three free throws to make the score 74-73 with 6.1 seconds to play.
Knitter was fouled immediately and knocked down both shots from the line. Colin Harris missed the game-tying three-point attempt as time expired.
Knitter's third three of the game gave Lafayette (7-17, 3-8) a 57-47 lead with 8:40 on the clock. A three-point play by Harley put the Leopards up 12 before Grant Carter hit a three. Jamaal Hilliard gave Lafayette a 12-point lead with a layup and free throw on the next possession but Harris answered from downtown.
Bell and Sinning did the rest of the scoring, accounting for the Black Knights' final 15 points. Army (3-20, 1-10) cut a 71-62 deficit with 3:57 left to a single point, but never led in the game.
Harley, who scored 13 points, hit a pair of three's to open the contest, and a triple by Pat Betley gave Lafayette a 9-0 advantage 3:06 into the game. The Leopards were 5-of-20 from long distance shooting over Army's zone in the first half and led 27-23 at intermission. Lafayette was 15-of-23 from the field and 5-of-8 from behind the arc after halftime.
Jamaal Douglas had 11 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, and Matt Betley handed out a career-high six assists and pulled down seven boards. Knitter was 6-of-7 from the floor and 6-for-6 from the foul line.
Bell complemented his 30-point game with team-highs of seven rebounds and five assists. Sinning had 20 points, five boards, four assists and four steals.
Lafayette, which has three games left before the Patriot League tournament, will host American on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. at Kirby Sports Center.
