Lafayette College men's basketball team beats Army, 75-63
Published: Wednesday, January 11, 2012, 10:59 PM
Updated: Thursday, January 12, 2012, 12:02 AM
View full sizeTony JohnsonDelaney scored a career-high 19 points, Johnson made his season debut off the bench and Giese was clutch down the stretch as theLafayette College men’s basketball team beat Army 75-63 in a Patriot League game on Wednesday evening at Kirby Sports Center.
“When Tony’s out there it takes more pressure off me and I have more legs and more opportunities to shoot jump shots,” said Delaney, who shot 6-for-13, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range. “I know my role on this team isn’t normally to be a scorer. When the opportunities come, I know I have to take advantage of it.”
Johnson, seeing his first action of the season due to a nagging preseason back injury, had three points, four assists, two blocks and two steals in 20 minutes on the court.
“I feel good; it’s nice to get hit to know I can take the beating,” said Johnson, an all-Patriot League preseason selection. “It feels good. I’ve gotten enough rest where I know I won’t feel the same sharp pain as before.”
The Leopards (7-10 overall, 2-0 league), who beat Army for the fifth consecutive time, got off to a hot start thanks to 6-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Delaney’s 3-pointer from the wing capped the perfect run, putting Lafayette ahead 20-11 with 12:45 left.
Lafayette, which improved to 26-8 all-time against the Black Knights (7-10, 0-2), proceeded to close the first half in dramatic fashion.
Johnson, a 6-foot junior guard, turned the ball over for the third time — something he admitted he wasn’t proud of — but made up for it by stripping Army sophomore guard Josh Herbeck at midcourt.
With approximately four seconds left, Johnson dashed to the basket, laying the ball up while falling. The ball went through the net and the buzzer went off as the Leopards led 36-28 at halftime.
“I thought the end of the first half when we got the steal that gave us momentum in the second half,” veteran Leopards coach Fran O’Hanlon said. “At some point (Johnson) will be starting for us again. For not having played, he played very well. I’m sure he’s not happy with the (three) turnovers and neither am I, but he’s only really practiced a few days.”
The Black Knights, who fell to 1-6 on the road this season, got a bit of momentum early in the second half as Milton Washington’s two free throws got Army within five points at 40-35 with 17:32 remaining.
Yet just as the game appeared to be close, Lafayette snuffed out any comeback with dagger after dagger from beyond the arc.
Delaney’s 3 ended Army’s mini run, Joey Ptasinski’s trey upped the advantage back up to double digits and Nick Petkovich’s make with 7:41 left all but sealed it at 62-45.
On the night, the ’Pards shot 56 percent (14 of 25) from 3-point range.
“We have good shooters and we feed off making 3s,” O’Hanlon said. “These guys get in the gaps and find open 3-point shooters.”
Just to be sure the lead was safe down the stretch, Giese scored eight of his 10 points in a four-minute span before fouling out with 1:48 to go. During that period, he also had two rebounds and a block.
“I thought we played better in the second half,” O’Hanlon said. “They’re very physical. I felt we did a good job to pull that out.”
ARMY (63)
Ellis 4-14 8-8 18, Springer 1-2 1-4 3, Washington 2-5 3-3 7, Simmons 4-18 2-3 12, Herbeck 2-5 0-0 5, Lenox 3-4 2-2 8, Williams 2-3 2-2 6, Thornton 0-0 0-0 0, Johnson 1-3 0-2 2, Stire 1-1 0-1 2. Totals 20-55 18-25 63.
Ellis 4-14 8-8 18, Springer 1-2 1-4 3, Washington 2-5 3-3 7, Simmons 4-18 2-3 12, Herbeck 2-5 0-0 5, Lenox 3-4 2-2 8, Williams 2-3 2-2 6, Thornton 0-0 0-0 0, Johnson 1-3 0-2 2, Stire 1-1 0-1 2. Totals 20-55 18-25 63.
LAFAYETTE (75)
Willen 3-7 6-6 13, Trist 2-3 1-3 5, Hinrichs 2-3 0-0 5, Mower 2-8 1-2 6, Delaney 6-13 2-3 19, Johnson 1-3 1-2 3, Detmer 0-0 0-0 0, Ptasinski 1-5 0-0 3, Flannigan 1-1 0-0 3, Smith 1-3 0-0 2, Giese 4-6 0-1 10, Petkovich 2-4 0-0 6, Pelham 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-57 11-17 75.
Willen 3-7 6-6 13, Trist 2-3 1-3 5, Hinrichs 2-3 0-0 5, Mower 2-8 1-2 6, Delaney 6-13 2-3 19, Johnson 1-3 1-2 3, Detmer 0-0 0-0 0, Ptasinski 1-5 0-0 3, Flannigan 1-1 0-0 3, Smith 1-3 0-0 2, Giese 4-6 0-1 10, Petkovich 2-4 0-0 6, Pelham 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-57 11-17 75.
Army (7-10, 0-2) 28 35—63
Lafayette (7-10, 2-0) 36 39—75
Lafayette (7-10, 2-0) 36 39—75
3-point goals—Army 5-21 (Ellis 2-7, Simmons 2-10, Herbeck 1-4), Lafayette 14-25 (Delaney 5-8, Giese 2-3, Petkovich 2-3, Hinrichs 1-1, Flannigan 1-1, Willen 1-2, Ptasinski 1-3, Mower 1-3, Smith 0-1). Fouled out—Giese. Rebounds—Army 38 (Springer 6), Lafayette 38 (Delaney 6). Assists—Army 7 (Williams 3), Lafayette 16 (Johnson, Mower 4). Total fouls—Army 21, Lafayette 25. Officials—Rod Mrakovich, Steven Weaver, Mark Wilson. A—1,544.
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