Nov. 22, 2005

Final Stats

Bethlehem, Pa. - Jose Olivero scored 18 points and Kyle Neptune added 12 to lead Lehigh to a hard-fought 58-54 win over Stony Brook Tuesday night in Bethlehem, Pa. Mike Popoko had 23 points and eight boards to pace the Seawolves who fell to 0-2 on the season.

In what amounted to a see-saw battle for 40 minutes, the Seawolves found themselves trailing 52-51 with just under a minute to go. Popoko drove the lane but his floater front-rimmed the basket and Lehigh secured the rebound. After a Stony Brook foul, Neptune hit two free throws to extend the lead to 54-51 with 44 ticks on the clock. Looking to get even, the Seawolves ran a set play that left Popoko wide open for a 3-point attempt. Popoko's shot was off the mark and Lehigh once again grabbed the critical rebound. The Mountain Hawks converted six free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

It was Jason Mgebroff who sparked the Mountain Hawks in the final minutes. With the score tied at 44, Mgebroff missed a free throw but Neptune came away with the offensive rebound and found Mgebroff under the hoop. He hit the layup and was fouled, converting the three-point play to give Lehigh a 47-44 lead, a lead it never relinquished. Mgebroff scored seven second-half points.

In the first half, the Seawolves jumped out to an early lead behind the strong play of Popoko. Popoko scored 10 of Stony Brook's first 13 points as the visitors took a 13-7 lead at the 13:48 mark. Stony Brook then went cold from the field and Lehigh responded with a 15-4 run capped by a Neptune 3-pointer from the corner to give the Mountain Hawks a 22-17 edge. The Seawolves battled back to get it even at 22 on a Tre Cunningham jumper from in close, but Lehigh's Bryan White scored the next seven points late in the first half to give Lehigh its biggest lead at 29-22. Antwan Hardy drilled a long three as time ran out to cut the lead to 29-25 at the break.

Popoko's 23 points set a new career high while Hendrik Feist chipped in with 13 points, going 3-for-3 from 3-point range. Hardy finished with 11 points.

Lehigh was 14 of 24 from the free throw line. Stony Brook hit 4 of 7 attempts.

The Seawolves are back in action this Saturday when they host Columbia. Tip-off is 1 p.m.