BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Despite both senior
Max Mahoney and sophomore
Walter Whyte claiming a double-double the Boston University men's basketball team came up just short at Lehigh in overtime, 57-55.
Facing a six-point deficit with four minutes remaining in regulation, the Terriers (17-13, 11-6 PL) rallied to force overtime but went 0-for-9 from the field and 2-for-7 at the charity stripe during the extra session to finish at a season-low 28.6 FG%. The Mountain Hawks (9-20, 6-11 PL) improved to 4-2 over their last six games by shooting 38.1 percent from the field and winning the battle at the boards, 50-47.
Whyte posted a team-high 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Mahoney earned 12 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Terriers. Jordan Cohen recorded a team-high 14 points and four assists for Lehigh, as both Jeameril Wilson (11 pts., 11 rebs.) and James Karnik (12 pts., 10 rebs.) earned a double-double.
OVERTIME
- BU was unable to get into any rhythm during the extra session and never got a lucky bounce either while missing all seven attempts in the paint, including the game-tying attempt at the buzzer.
- Lehigh wasn't having much success either from the field or free throw line, starting a combined 0-for-5 before Wilson scored on a layup at 2:09 for the 55-53 advantage.
- Whyte went 1-of-2 at the line on the next possession to cut the deficit in half.
- BU's defense stepped up and made Lehigh have two consecutive empty possessions.
- Fouled with 24 seconds, Mahoney missed both free throw attempts and then grabbed the offensive rebound, but Wilson made an impressive block on Mahoney's layup attempt to maintain the one-point lead.
- After Cohen flushed two free throws to extend the lead to 57-54, BU missed a game-tying 3-point attempt but was fouled trying to grab the offensive rebound with 0.7 seconds left.
- Mahoney hit the first free throw and intentionally missed the second before Whyte grabbed the offensive rebound and missed on a rushed attempt at the buzzer for the heart-breaking loss.
THE SECOND HALF
- After junior Javante McCoy opened the second half with a jumper for 30-21 lead, Wilson flushed a 3-pointer to ignite a 17-2 run capped by his own ayup at 14:10.
- The Terriers went on an 8-0 spurt to retake the lead at 11:25 (40-38) after Whyte scored on his offensive rebound and putback.
- Karnik scored six straight points for the Mountain Hawks, and Cohen later added a fastbreak bucket to extend the lead to 51-45 at 4:51.
- Continuing the see-saw affair, sophomore Jonas Harper flushed a 3-pointer to spark an 8-0 run capped by two free throws from sophomore Alex Vilarino at 2:05.
- The Terriers were scoreless the rest of the half, missing a layup and 3-point attempt.
- Karnik tied the game at 51 seconds on a layup, and Lehigh was well short on a 3-point attempt at the buzzer to send the game to OT.
THE FIRST HALF
- It was a slow start for both teams, as they combined for 10-of-33 shooting to start.
- Vilarino went 1-of-2 at the charity stripe for 13-12 lead with 8:51 remaining in the half.
- After Evan Taylor hit a 3-pointer for 17-16 lead at 5:21, Mahoney hit a layup to spark a 11-0 run featuring bombs by Whyte and Petcash.
- Sophomore Fletcher Tynen capped the spurt with a layup and free throw at 2:05 for 27-17 advantage.
- Jeameril Wilson hit a jumper tp cut BU's lead to 28-21 entering the locker room.
GAME NOTES
- With 18:31 remaining in the first half, McCoy hit a jumper to become the 39th Terrier to reach the 1,000-point milestone.
- Mahoney needs eight points and 28 rebounds to become the fourth Terrier to reach 1,500 points and 700 rebounds.
- Harper earned a career-high six rebounds, topping his previous high of four, while adding four points.
- Petcash outscored Lehigh's bench alone, 8-7.
- The Terriers outscored Lehigh in second-chance opportunities, 13-6, but only managed three points off 13 turnovers against 10 Lehigh points off eight BU turnovers.
- The Terriers dropped to 0-3 in overtime games this season, while the Mountain Hawks moved to 1-1.
- BU's 70 field goal attempts tied a program-high in Patriot League games, set twice previously at Colgate back in January and vs. Bucknell in 2018.
- BU now leads the all-time series, 9-8, after Lehigh avenged an earlier 84-67 loss in which Karnik did not see action due to injury.
NEXT UP: BUCKNELL
- The Terriers will return home to host Bucknell on Saturday with tip-off slated for 12 p.m.
- Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the Senior Day ceremony recognizing Max Mahoney and Adam Mikula.
- BU claimed a 77-57 win over the Bison back on Feb. 1 to hand Bucknell its worst home loss since 2001.
- The Terriers will be seeking their first-ever sweep against Bucknell since joining the Patriot League in the summer of 2013.
- BU needs a win and American loss to Holy Cross on Saturday to clinch the No. 2 seed for next week's PL tournament.