Lehigh Men’s Basketball Faces Ranked Dayton on the Road
Lehigh Men’s Basketball Faces homecoming Test Against Ranked Dayton
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Riding a two-game winning streak, the Lehigh men’s basketball team (3-5) hits the road for a challenging matchup against the Dayton Flyers (7-2) on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game holds special significance for senior guard Ben Knostman, who will be playing in front of a hometown crowd at UD Arena, just a short drive from his alma mater, Tippecanoe High School.
This marks the second meeting between the Mountain Hawks and Flyers, with Dayton claiming an 89-71 victory in the 2009-10 season.A young C.J. McCollum led Lehigh with 16 points in that contest, while Chris Wright paced dayton with the same total.
A win on Saturday would be historic for Lehigh, marking their first-ever victory over Dayton and their first road win of the season.
“It’s always exciting to play in front of family and friends,” said Knostman. “Dayton is a great program, and we know it will be a tough challenge, but we’re confident in our abilities and ready to compete.”
Lehigh enters the game brimming with confidence after a dominant 90-63 victory over Monmouth on wednesday. Five Mountain Hawks reached double figures, led by a season-high 23 points from senior Tyler Whitney-Sidney.
“We played with great energy and focus against Monmouth,” said head coach Brett Reed. “We need to bring that same intensity to Dayton.”
Dayton, currently receiving votes in the AP Top 25 Men’s College Basketball Poll, presents a formidable challenge. The Flyers boast a balanced attack led by senior guard Enoch Cheeks,who averages 16.3 points per game. Nate Santos, Zed Key, and Malachi Smith also contribute double-digit scoring averages.
“Dayton is a very talented team with a lot of weapons,” said Reed. “We need to be disciplined defensively and execute our game plan.”
Following Saturday’s game, Lehigh will have a two-week break for final examinations before returning to action on December 21 against Long Island University.
game Information:
Date: December 7, 2024
Opponent: (RV) Dayton
Tip Off: 2:00 p.m.
Arena: UD Arena (13,049)
TV: WHIO-TV/ESPN+
Radio: Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM
Homecoming Spotlight: Local Hero Knostman Faces Ranked Dayton
Senior guard Ben Knostman will be playing in front of a hometown crowd this Saturday when the Lehigh Mountain Hawks (3-5) travel to face the nationally ranked Dayton Flyers (7-2). The 2 p.m. matchup at UD Arena holds special significance for Knostman,who hails from nearby Tippecanoe High School.
Though the Flyers are heavily favored, Knostman and the Mountain Hawks are riding a wave of momentum after a resounding 90-63 victory over Monmouth on Wednesday.Lehigh. Five Mountain Hawks reached double figures in that game, led by Tyler Whitney-Sidney’s season-high 23 points.
This marks only the second meeting between the two programs, with Dayton claiming an 89-71 victory in the 2009-10 season. A win on saturday for Lehigh would be historic, marking their first-ever victory over Dayton and their first road win of the season.
“It’s always exciting to play in front of family and friends,” said Knostman. “Dayton is a great program, and we know it will be a tough challenge, but we’re confident in our abilities and ready to compete.”
Dayton’s balanced attack, led by Enoch Cheeks’ 16.3 points per game, presents a formidable challenge for the Mountain Hawks. Nate Santos, Zed Key, and Malachi Smith also contribute double-digit scoring averages for the Flyers, who are currently receiving votes in the AP Top 25 Men’s College Basketball Poll.
“Dayton is a very talented team with a lot of weapons,” said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. “We need to be disciplined defensively and execute our game plan.”
Following Saturday’s game, Lehigh will have a two-week break for final exams before returning to action on December 21st against Long Island University.