February 9, 2015

EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette men's basketball team battled through adversity on and off the court on Monday evening as Boston U. took advantage in a 74-60 defeat over the Leopards at Kirby Sports Center.

Seconds before the starting lineup was introduced, sophomore point guard Nick Lindner fell ill, forcing junior Bryce Scott, who was a gametime decision with a separated shoulder, into the opening five. The Leopards did not respond well as the Terriers jumped out to a big lead early and never looked back. Lindner would not return in the game, but did make his way to the Lafayette bench late in the second half.

"I don't know if I've ever seen that kind of timing before when someone is ready to go one minute and not the next," head coach Fran O'Hanlon said. "Our start was obviously not the start we wanted. Even though we cut it a couple of times, it was just too much to make up throughout the game."

The loss deadlocks Boston U. and Lafayette at 6-6 apiece in Patriot League play and moves the Leopards to 14-9 overall on the year. Lafayette shot less than 40 percent for just the second time this season, going 21-for-53 from the field (39.6%), and lost the battle on the glass, 36-25.

Senior Dan Trist led three Leopards in double figures with 17 points, while classmate Seth Hinrichs and Scott each chipped in with 12 and 10 points, respectively. John Papale's 14 points led a balanced Terriers attack that went 29-for-56 from the field (51.8%) and 10-for-29 from three (34.5%). Cheddi Mosely, Eric Fanning and Nathan Dieudonne added 13, 13, and 10 points each.

The Leopards struggled to find themselves early and Boston U. took advantage, jumping out to a 21-5 lead after the first six minutes. Scott's triple at the 13:30 mark brought the Leopards back within 13 and another from junior Zach Rufer made it a 10-point game at 21-11 with 12:50 left in the half.

A distance shot from Papale, followed by a run-out from Fanning moved the Terriers' lead back out to 15 midway through the half. However, the Leopards fought back as a three in transition from Scott and an elbow jumper from Trist moved Lafayette within six at 31-25 with 7:40 to play.

Boston responded, though, as six back the other way made it 37-25 with less than six minutes remaining in the half. The Leopards fought through the end of the first half to move the game into the locker room, trailing by nine, 48-39.

Lafayette came out in the second half with renewed energy as the first five points went in the Maroon and White's favor to cut the lead to four at 48-44. The Terriers came back with seven of the next 10 points to take an eight-point edge into the first media timeout of the second half.

The lead hovered around 10 points throughout the midway point of the second half before a huge dunk from Blaise Mbargorba sparked a mini-run for the Terriers who extended their edge to 14 at 66-52 with just over eight minutes remaining.

Boston U. extended its lead to as many as 20 with 5:38 remaining and cruised throughout the final minutes to come away with a 74-60 win.

Next up for the Leopards is trip to Baltimore, Md. to take on Loyola on Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m.