Feb. 9, 2005
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Friday, Feb. 11, 2005 - 7:00 p.m. EST
Match Up: Lafayette (6-16, 2-7) at Holy Cross (17-5, 8-1)
Site: Worcester, Mass. (Hart Center - 3,600)
Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005 - 1:00 p.m. EST
Match Up: Lafayette at Army
Site: West Point, N.Y. (Christl Arena - 5,403)
Radio: WEST-AM 1400, www.goleopards.com
Dick Hammer, Phil LaBella
THE STORY LINE: Lafayette embarks on its final multiple-game road trip of the season, with games at Holy Cross on Friday, Feb. 11 and Army on Sunday, Feb. 13. The Patriot League-leading Crusaders have won their last nine contests since a loss at Bucknell on Jan. 8 in their league opener. Army is 1-8 in the league, with its lone win coming against Navy at West Point on Jan. 23.
LAST TIME OUT: Alvin Reed's free throw with one second left broke a 61-61 tie and gave Colgate sole possession of fifth place. Lafayette went on a 14-2 run to start the second half and led 49-43 after Jamaal Douglas (18 pts., 11 reb.) dunked with 8:50 left. Colgate pulled ahead 58-54 with 4:21 to go before Marcus Harley, who finished with 11, scored the next five points. Harley drew contact but no foul call with six seconds left in a tie game, and Matt Betley fouled Reed at the other end to prevent a layup.
COMING UP: The Leopards host American on Saturday, Feb. 19. Lafayette rallied from a 74-68 deficit in the final minute but Andre Ingram hit a shot at the buzzer for a 76-74 win on Jan. 15.
NATIONALLY-RANKED: As of the last NCAA rankings (2/7) Jamaal Hilliard ranks eighth in the nation in free throw percentage. The sophomore guard was 10-for-10 from the line in the season-opener at Duquesne, and in the league opener against Navy. His percentage currently stands at 90.2 (55-61). Hilliard is 17-for-18 from the foul line in Patriot League action, and 8-of-14 from three-point range.
DOUGLAS GOES TO WORK: If Jamaal Douglas were a member of a rebounder's union, he would be in line for a substantial raise after his performance this season. The sophomore forward has the sixth-biggest improvement in rebounding margin in the nation, with 7.55 per game after averaging 2.04 in 2003-04. The Bahamas native is the leading rebounder in PL play with 8.3 per game (7.5 rpg overall). He is sixth in scoring in PL action with 13.6 per game, including 16.8 ppg in the last five contests. (Source: STATS, Inc.)
THE TWIN TOWERS: Senior 6-8 F/C Sean Knitter and sophomore 6-6 F Jamaal Douglas both scored 20 points vs. Bucknell, just the second and third time this season that a Leopard hit the 20-point plateau. Knitter, a co-captain, is averaging 10.6 ppg and 5.9 rpg. He is shooting 10-of-27 from three in league play. Knitter and Douglas have combined for 28.6 points and 12.6 rebounds in the last five games.
ON THE SIDELINE: Two-time Patriot League Coach of the Year Fran O'Hanlon (Villanova, '70) is in his tenth season as the Leopards' mentor. He has twice led Lafayette's non-scholarship program to the NCAA Tournament and lays claim to three Patriot League regular-season titles among his credentials. O'Hanlon's career record stands at 147-133, a mark that includes two 20-win seasons.
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