6 January, 2007
by Elliot Smilowitz
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1st |
2nd |
Final |
| Navy (10-6) |
24 |
27 |
51 |
| Bucknell (7-7) |
28 |
31 |
59 |
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After a rough non-conference schedule, Bucknell returned to Patriot League play with aplomb, sinking Navy 59-51. The Bison overcame an 18-point performance from Greg Sprink, who never left the court all game.
Bucknell started strong, taking a 16-9 lead early, getting points from 5 different players in that span. Navy responded with 12 straight points, 5 each from Sprink and Adam Teague, to take a 5-point lead, their largest of the night. The teams jostled as the half ended, with Bucknell claiming a small lead. Bucknell used a 7-0 run early in the second half to claim control and an 8-point lead. From then on, the Bison controlled the flow of the game, leading by between 5 and 10 points the entire final 17 minutes of play.
Bucknell used their interior advantage to control the game, as their perimeter shooters struggled. The Bison were just 2-for-13 from the arc, “led†by Jason Vegotsky’s 0-for-6 shooting on threes. However, Donald Brown scored 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting and Chris McNaughton got 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Sprink received little help from his teammates, with no other Midshipmen scoring more than 8 points.
Navy heads home to battle Lehigh Wednesday, while the Bison hosts American Tuesday night.
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| Keys to the Game |
| Key sequence |
With 2:57 remaining, Navy cut their deficit to 7 on a pair of Sprink free throws. Badmus was fouled but missed both free throws. Navy had the ball and a chance to make it a two-possession game, but Sprink was called for an offensive foul away from the ball. Seconds later, John Griffin hit a lay-up to bring Bucknell’s lead back to 9.
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| Key sign it was over |
Bucknell got the ball back up by 8 with 1:13 left. Rather than foul, Navy let the Bison run out the shot clock, effectively conceding the game. By the time Navy got the ball back, there were 39 seconds remaining, not nearly enough time to make up 8 points.
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| Key performance |
Brown had another great game, with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists.
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| Key statistic |
Navy was 10-of-19 on two-point shots, but insisted on taking more three-pointers, where they were 8-for-24.
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| Notes |
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Despite Bucknell’s obvious interior advantage, Navy outrebounded the Bison 29-28.
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Both teams shot poorly from the free throw line. Navy was 7-of-12 from the stripe, while Bucknell was just 15-for-27 on foul shots.
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Bucknell controlled the ball well, giving up just 6 turnovers and tossing 18 assists. In contrast Navy had 13 turnovers and 11 assists.
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Navy only had 7 players play more than 10 minutes, going with a four-guard lineup for long stretches.
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