EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette fell to Lehigh, 71-63, on Saturday afternoon in Kirby Sports Center.

Prior to the contest, Lafayette celebrated the careers of the program's two seniors, Kyle Jenkins and Sondberg. The 1998-99 Patriot League Championship team also returned to College Hill today to commemorate its 25-year reunion with a schedule full of events, including a post-game pig roast.

Lafayette's top performance came through Luka Savicevic, who posted 12 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Justin Vander Baan (11) and Eric Sondberg (10) also scored in double figures.

The Maroon and White were held to 34.9 percent from the floor and 8-of-25 from long range overall and were out-rebounded 46-36. 

Lehigh opened the first half with a trio of 3-pointers, two by Tyler Whitney-Sydney, for a 13-5 lead at 15:54.

The Mountain Hawks continued to forge ahead, 30-13, using a 17-8 run to the seven-minute mark. Lafayette closed the gap to 11 by 2:11 with a 10-4 spurt, fueled by Luka Savicevic's four points.

Chris Rubayo concluded the initial period with deep a shot from beyond the arc as the Leopards trailed 37-26 going into the halftime break.

Lehigh came out strong in the second half, posting an 11-4 stretch to 15:50, to hold a 48-30 advantage.

Devin Hines and Savicevic netted five points apiece in a 15-10 Lafayette spread, remaining out of reach of the opponent, 58-45 at 8:28.

Vander Baan book-ended a 3-pointer by Sondberg with a pair of dunks and a steal, bringing the Leopards within seven points, 62-55, at the two-minute mark.

The Mountain Hawks secured five free throws in the last two minutes, part of 12-of-17 from the charity stripe overall, as Lafayette began fouling to regain possession.

Sondberg scored his third shot from beyond the arc with 25 seconds remaining to play, but it was not enough to overcome the final deficit.

Lehigh shot 43.3 percent from the field and had 30 points in the paint and 14 from fast breaks. Burke Chebuhar led three Mountain Hawks in double figures with a 16-point and 12-rebound double-double.

The Leopards travel to Navy on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tip-off.


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