Men’s Basketball: Terriers Longing League Win Against Bucknell

By: Dave Souza

After starting out conference play at 5-0, the Boston University Men’s Basketball team has suffered two consecutive losses and now find themselves on the road against a stout Buckenell squad.

The Bison (14-6, 6-1 PL) have enjoyed early success, losing just two games at home all season. Recently, Bucknell has been rolling, with double-digit wins over Colgate and Loyola Maryland, the only two Patriot League squads that have bested BU.

Bucknell has been led defensively by junior Nana Foulland. The center currently leads the team in rebounds per game at 8.4 and in blocks with an average of 1.9 per game.

Offensively, Zach Thomas has been the driving force for the Bison. The junior is averaging 15.6 points per game and has been lethal from the forward position.

With both sides of the court being driven by big men for Bucknell, senior Justin Allston will be charged with stopping both Bison.

This season Allston has been huge for BU down near the glass. The forward is the only Terrier to start in all 19 contests this season and currently leads the team in offensive boards at 8. Allston is second to only Eric Fanning in total rebounds per game at 6.2.

And while Fanning has been explosive on the offensive side of the ball, he has relied on large support from his fellow Terriers to win games. Usually a prolific three-point shooter, Cedric Hankerson struggled across the board against Colgate, going 0-11 on field goal attempts with his lone point coming from the foul line.

Today, if the Terriers are to be successful, Hankerson will have to look past his prior shortcomings and return to his clutch ways. Despite his poor outing last game, Hankerson is still second on the team with 11.4 points per game and leads the team with 51 converted threes.

Tyler Scanlon has also cashed in from beyond the arc numerous times in his freshman season. The forward has been lethal from the corner and turns in one of the highest three-point percentages for BU at .393.

Head coach Joe Jones has preached a message of consistency all year long to his team. If the Terriers are to return to their winning ways against the defending regular season champion Bison, they’ll need a full 40 minutes of consistent basketball.