EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette took Lehigh to double overtime on Saturday evening, falling by a 94-90 decision in Stabler Arena.

The Leopards shot 55.6 percent and 43.5 percent from the floor and beyond the arc overall, respectively. Freshman Mark Butler had a career evening, posting 20 points, five assists and three rebounds in 42 minutes.

The Leopards forced an early Lehigh timeout at 17:21, following a deep 3-pointer by Devin Hines that gave Lafayette a 10-0 start to the first half.

The Maroon and White extended their lead to 15 points, 25-10, at the 12-minute mark, with yet another shot from beyond the arc by Hines in a 17-10 stretch. The West Palm Beach, Fla. native led five scorers with six points.

Senior Eric Sondberg and freshman Joshua Wyche kept the Leopards out of reach, 33-12 by 8:57, with a pair of 3-pointers in the biggest lead of the game.

Lehigh made a 13-6 advance down to 1:53, mostly comprised of six perfect free throws. The Mountain Hawks were unable to close the 41-27 gap going into the locker rooms for break.

Lehigh opened the second half with a 14-6 surge, capped by Dominic Parolin's 3-pointer at 15:26, to get within six points, 47-41. A 3-pointer from sophomore Ryan Pettit helped Lafayette regain its footing at 12:46, leading 52-41.

Butler was the lone Leopard scorer in a Lehigh's 13-6 offensive barrage as the Mountain Hawks crept within four, 58-54 at 5:26.

Justin Vander Baan fouled out at 2:42 following the unfortunate landing of defensive maneuver, allowing Lehigh's Keith Higgins a pair of free throws. His successful charity stripe shots were quickly negated by two of Butler's own, leading 64-60 at 2:14.

Higgins made it a two-point game, 64-62, at 1:25 before the Mountain Hawks found themselves in possession of the ball with 17 seconds on the clock. Burke Chebuhar found the net just two seconds before the end of regulation for a 64-64 tie.

An even 11-11 spurt took place in the first overtime period as Lafayette had its second player foul out, Chris Rubayo. The extra period was closed out by Lafayette's final possession, trailing 75-73 with 10 seconds remaining on the clock. Head coach Mike McGarvey used his final timeout to draft a play for Kyle Jenkins to net the tying bucket, 75-75.

Pettit and Sondberg each hit a 3-pointer within the second overtime period for an 86-86 tie. However, Higgins retaliated with one of his own (0:34) as Jenkins also fouled out for Lafayette.

Lehigh sealed the deal with a final four free throws, part of an 84.8 percent shooting night from the charity stripe on 33 attempts. Lafayette went 10-for-14 in free throws overall

Parolin led the opponent with 33 points, shooting 10-for-21 from the field and 55.6 percent from the 3-point range on nine attempts. Lehigh out-rebounded the Maroon and White 34-30, including a 9-3 margin on the offensive glass.

The Leopards host Loyola Md. on Wednesday at 7 p.m.


For the latest on the Lafayette College men's basketball program, follow the Leopards on X @LafayetteMBB and Instagram @lafayettembb.