Dec. 11, 2010
Box Score
NEW YORK - Lafayette cut a 15-point second-half lead to two points on separate occasions in the final 26 seconds, but could not complete the comeback in an 85-80 loss at Long Island University on Saturday afternoon.
Lafayette had four players score in double figures led by 18 points for Jared Mintz, 13 for Jim Mower and Tony Johnson and 10 for Rob Delaney. Julian Boyd led LIU with a game-high 23 points as one of four in double figures.
Long Island (6-3) got things rolling near the end of the first half, putting together an 8-0 run to lead 45-34. Jamal Olasawere finished the spurt with a dunk and three-point play. LIU led 47-37 at halftime The Blackbirds forced 12 turnovers and reaped 18 points from those miscues in the first half during which the Leopards played without Ryan Willen (nine minutes) and Darion Benbow (three minutes) for long stretches due to foul trouble.
In the second half, LIU extended its 10-point halftime headstart to 15 points (58-43) by the first media timeout. Lafayette used five straight coming on a Mower three-pointer and a Johnson, drive, dish and dunk by Mintz to whittle the deficit to 10 (58-48).
The Blackbirds stretched the lead to 13 (63-50) as Boyd dunked a putback and Jason Brickman connected for a three at 11:07.
Lafayette went on a 10-2 run to get back in the game for good. Willen hit a three with 7:19 left to move Lafayette within five. Giese also hit a three and Mower converted a three-point play for the Leopards.
The Leopards (4-7) cut the lead to 69-65 when Ben Wheeler found Delaney on a baseline cut for the bucket, causing LIU to take a 30-second timeout.
Johnson's jumper with 2:18 brought Lafayette within four (75-71) only to see consecutive buckets by LIU's Boyd and C.J. Garner make it 79-71 with 1:27 to go.
Johnson knifed through the lane for a layup with 49 seconds left, and Lafayette forced a turnover on the next LIU possession. Mower drove to the hoop and was fouled where he made both attempts to trim the advantage to 80-78 with 26 ticks left.
Garner (two free throws) and Johnson (layup) exchanged two points as Lafayette trailed 82-80 with 12 seconds left. Brickman sealed the game with two free throws.
On the afternoon, the Leopards were outrebounded 40-27 while giving up 18 second-chance points. Lafayette did force 23 LIU turnovers, but committed 19 of their own.
Lafayette will have 10 days off from competition to prepare and take final exams before traveling to face Atlantic 10 foe Rhode Island on Dec. 22.
NOTES: Former Lafayette basketball players Jeff Kari '10 and Ted Detmer '08 were in attendance.
