Jan. 20, 2010
Box Score | 
Photo Gallery | 
EASTON, Pa. - Jared Mintz and Michael Gruner helped keep Lafayette perfect in conference play as Lafayette beat Bucknell 61-57 on Wednesday at Kirby Sports Center. Mintz recorded his third double-double (17 pts., 11 rebs.) of the season and fifth of his career while Gruner scored several crucial buckets to finish with 14 points.
Mintz had a season-high 11 rebounds for the Leopards who outrebounded Bucknell 37-35, but committed a season-high 23 turnovers. The Leopards are 13-6 overall and 4-0 in league play and improve to 8-1 at Kirby Sports Center.
As has been the case in each of the Leopards' four Patriot League games, Lafayette came out strong in the first half. The Maroon and White led by as many as 13 points, 21-8, in the early going. The Bison went on a 15-3 run to bring them within one, 24-23, at the half. Lafayette shot 37 percent from the field in the first stanza.
In the second half, the Bison (6-14, 1-3) were ready to play, taking over the lead for the first time since the 19-minute mark of the first half (2-0). Darryl Shazier hit a three-pointer at 18:02 as Bucknell led 27-26. Over the next 11 minutes the game was tied five times.
A rare five-point play changed the tide of the game. With the Leopards' trailing 48-44, Jim Mower buried a three at the top of the key. Meanwhile, Mintz was fouled in the paint on the play. The officials reviewed the play, the basket counted and Mintz went to the line for a one-and-one. The junior forward, who is shooting 88 percent from the line, sank both free throws, the first one tying the game and the second handing Lafayette a 49-48 lead at 5:35.
The game was tied for the final time (52-52) with 4:11 left when Bucknell's Bryan Cohen (13 points) hit two at the stripe. Gruner immediately broke the tie when he drove to the hoop. Mower followed with a back-breaking three with 2:02 left on the clock to push Lafayette's lead to 57-52.
Gruner added a layup at 1:10 and freshman Tony Johnson made two foul shots to seal the win. Cohen and Stephen Tyree (10 points) finished in double figures for Bucknell.
The Bison shot 34 percent from the field. Lafayette's shooting improved greatly in the second half, as the Leopards converted 12-of-20 (60%) and Lafayette shot 47 percent from the field for the game. The Leopards were an impressive 86 percent (12-of-14) from the charity stripe while Bucknell hit 55 percent.
Next up, Lafayette and Lehigh (12-7, 3-1) meet for the 211th time at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pa.
NOTES:
The last time Lafayette started 4-0 in conference action was 2007-08 when the Leopards were 5-0.
Wednesday's win was the fourth time Lafayette outrebounded an opponent in 2009-10. The Leopards are 4-0 in those games.
