Men’s Basketball: BU Drops Third Straight League Game
By: Matt Doherty
The struggles continued for the Boston University men’s basketball team on Saturday afternoon as the Terriers fell 70-59 to the hands of the league leading Bucknell Bison.
After starting conference play at a blistering 5-0, BU has now lost its last three games as they are searching for answers at the wrong time.
On Saturday, the Terriers dueled off against the Bison with first-place in the Patriot League on the line. BU controlled much of the game, including a seven point halftime lead where they used their stellar defensive play to hold Bucknell to 22 first half points and force 12 turnovers.
Trailing 52-46 with 7:22 left, the Bison went on a 10-0 run to take their first lead of the game since 4-3.
In the final minutes, the home team made the clutch shots when it mattered the most, highlighted by a Zach Thomas deep three-pointer at the shot clock to make it a seven point lead with under a minute to go.
The Terriers made just two field goals in the final seven and a half minutes as their poor late game execution gave the Bison the victory. Once again it was the Terrier offense struggling mightily. In the three game losing streak, BU has scored 69, 58, and 59 points well below their average of over 70 ppg.
BU is shooting just 12-58 3FG (20.6%) in the streak including a 5-20 3FG mark on Saturday vs. Bucknell. The cold spell has been led by their best shooter Cedric Hankerson whose struggles continued. Hankerson scored 5 points on 1-8 3FG. In the three game losing streak he is 2-20 3FG while scoring 9 combined points in that stretch.
Senior Eric Fanning also struggled on Saturday after putting together back-to-back monster performances. Fanning recorded 5 points while not connecting on a field goal. Justin Alston kept the Terriers in the game scoring 20 points.
The lack of contributions on the offensive end has doomed the Terriers in the losing streak. With Hankerson struggling, the Terriers offense has became a two-man show with Fanning and Alston.
After being suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules, the loss of Cheddi Mosely has certainly hurt the Terriers as of late without his offensive boost off the bench.
Meanwhile, the dominance continued for Bucknell who is now 15-6, 7-1 PL. Forward Nana Foulland led the charge for Nathan Davis’ team with 23 points as they now own a two game lead over second place BU in the Patriot League standings.
BU will return home next Wednesday to take on Army West Point and try to end the losing skid.