Men’s Basketball: Terriers Take the National Stage Against Lehigh

By: Matt Doherty

The last time the BU Men’s Basketball Team took center stage on National Television, they pulled out a thrilling 87-84 overtime victory against Loyola. On Sunday afternoon, the Terriers will try to replicate the same result when they host Lehigh at 12 PM on the CBS Sports Network.

BU knocked off Army on the road last time out moving them to 11-11 overall and 4-5 in Patriot League play. The Terriers received a massive 17 point, 18 rebound stat line from senior Nathan Dieudonne as well as 23 points from Cheddi Mosely in his first start in nearly a month.

After starting league play at 0-3, Joe Jones’s squad has keyed in on the defensive end holding opponents to 67 points per game on their way to winning 4 out of the last 6.

BU has faced every league opponent once so far in the 2015-2016 campaign and round two begins Sunday when Lehigh comes to town.

The Mountain Hawks come in at 6-13 overall and 4-4 in conference play but their record is a misnomer for their spectacular play.

Lehigh struggled mightily in non-conference play going 2-9 but have started to play well as of late. This team was picked to win the league in the preseason poll and already beat BU back on January 2nd by the score of 81-73.

They also have one of the best players in the Patriot League in Tim Kempton. The junior forward won the Player of the Year honors a season ago. So far this season, he is averaging 17.3 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game.

Kempton had 22 points and 11 rebounds in the first matchup this year so slowing him down will be important for BU.

The Terriers have done a good job as of late controlling the glass with Dieudonne and sophomore Nick Havener who need to continue rebounding at a high rate.

Junior Eric Fanning scored 37 points last time in the nationally televised game vs. Loyola. Fanning, who has returned to his sixth man role since then, provides an effective scoring option off the bench that BU will need in this game.

Sunday will be an opportunity for the Terriers to reach .500 in Patriot League play and pick up their fifth win the last seven games.

Tip-off from Case Gym is scheduled for 12 p.m. and can be seen live on CBS Sports Network and heard on WTBU with Zach Halperin on the call.