Lehigh's Nasir Whitlock stole the show at Stabler Arena, scoring 20 points to propel the Mountain Hawks to a 64-59 win over Lafayette. The victory marked a successful prediction by CHD Scout, which had Lehigh winning by 6.1 points. Although the actual margin was slightly narrower at 5 points, the Mountain Hawks' performance was a reflection of their strength.
The first half belonged to Lehigh, with the Mountain Hawks taking a commanding 38-22 lead into halftime. Whitlock was instrumental in this stretch, scoring 12 of his 20 points in the opening period. Lafayette, however, refused to back down, with Caleb Williams leading the charge. The Leopards' top scorer finished with 18 points and 5 rebounds, and his efforts helped narrow the deficit in the second half.
Lafayette's Mark Butler and Shareef Jackson also made significant contributions, scoring 14 and 13 points, respectively. Despite their best efforts, the Leopards were unable to overcome the Mountain Hawks' strong start. Lehigh's Hank Alvey and Joshua Ingram provided valuable support, with Alvey scoring 12 points and grabbing 7 rebounds, and Ingram adding 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
The second half saw Lafayette mount a comeback, outscoring Lehigh 37-26. However, the Mountain Hawks' cushion from the first half proved too great to overcome. As the final buzzer sounded, Lehigh had secured a hard-fought 64-59 victory.
The win improves Lehigh's record to 9-12, while Lafayette falls to 5-16. Although neither team is currently in the running for a top tournament seed, the outcome of this game has implications for their respective resumes. For Lehigh, the victory constitutes a Quadrant 4 win, which may not significantly bolster their tournament chances but does help to pad their overall record. On the other hand, Lafayette's loss represents a Quadrant 4 defeat, which is unlikely to harm their already slim tournament prospects but does little to enhance their profile.
In the context of their seasons, this result is more of a confirmation of expectations than a surprise. Lehigh's performance, led by Whitlock's standout scoring, demonstrates their ability to take care of business against lesser opponents. As the Mountain Hawks continue their campaign, they want to build on this momentum and secure more meaningful victories to strengthen their tournament resume. For now, the win over Lafayette serves as a solid, if unspectacular, addition to their portfolio.