Lehigh Opens Season at Syracuse Monday Night

story links

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men’s basketball team is ready to hit the floor for the first time on Monday, as the Mountain Hawks travel to Syracuse to face the Orange in the JMA Wireless Dome. Opening tipoff is set for 8 pm on ACC Network Extra and Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM. Lehigh features a strong mix of returning players, coupled with talented first-years, who look to get the Mountain Hawks back into Patriot League Championship contention, as the Mountain Hawks were selected third in the Patriot League Preseason Poll. Leading the way is senior Evan Taylor, who was named to the Patriot League Preseason All-League Team.

Taylor is the Mountain Hawks’ top statistical returner. Last season, Mountain Hawks’ leading returning scorer averaged 13.0 points per contest last season, tied for 13th in the Patriot League. On top of Taylor’s third team All-League honors, he was also named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court and Academic All-Patriot League Team.

Also among Lehigh’s returnees are seniors Reed Fenton, Jakob Alamudun and Jake Betlow, who have made all significant contributions over the course of their careers. Lehigh also returns sophomore guards Keith Higgins Jr. and Tyler Whitney-Sidney, who were selected to the Patriot League’s All-Rookie Team following last season. The 2022-23 Mountain Hawks appear to be very deep, with a large number of players who have played big minutes, and started games, in their collegiate careers.

The Mountain Hawks will be playing Syracuse for the first time since 2015 and the fifth time in program history. Syracuse leads the all-time series with Lehigh, 4-0, The two programs met for the first time in the early 1920s, with the first-ever meeting on Mar. 3, 1923, a 28-16 Syracuse victory.

Last season, Syracuse finished 16-17 and 9-11 in the ACC and earned a victory over Florida State in the second round of the ACC Tournament. Overall, Syracuse lost their top four leading scorers, including seven seniors and graduate students. Its top returning scorer and leading rebounder is Jesse Edwards, who averaged 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and led the Orange in blocks with 67. Among the biggest losses include Buddy Boeheim, who averaged 19.2 points and top rebounder Cole Swider (who averaged a team- leading 6.8 rebounds). A youthful Syracuse squad welcomes six freshmen to the program that are looking to make an impact

In his career, head coach Brett Reed owns wins over four power conferences (Big East, ACC, SEC and Pac-12), but is looking for his first over the Orange and the first victory over an ACC opponent since 2012 when Lehigh took down Duke in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.

Following Monday night’s game, Lehigh will travel to Blacksburg, Va. to take on Virginia Tech at the Cassell Coliseum, with tipoff set for 6 pm on ACC Network Extra and Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM.

dates: November 7, 2022
Opponent: Syracuse Orange
Tip off: 8 p.m
Arena (Capacity): JMA Wireless Dome (34,616)
Location: Syracuse, NY
Lehigh’s Record: 0-0, 0-0 Patriot League
Rutgers’ Record: 0-0, 0-0AC
Series: Syracuse leads, 4-0
TV: ACC Network Extra
Radio: Fox Sports 94.7 FM / 1230 AM

Like Lehigh Men’s Basketball on Facebookfollow on Twitter other Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.

Comments are closed.