NCAA News Wire
Lehigh 82, Boston University 80 (OT)
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Senior guard Mackey McKnight scored on a sensational, buzzer-beating drive in overtime, giving Lehigh an 82-80 come-from-behind upset of Boston University on Saturday afternoon in Boston.
After failing to score in the first half when the Mountain Hawks fell behind by 15, McKnight finished with 16 points. He also had a three-point play to open the overtime session and another driving score with 20 seconds left that gave Lehigh an 80-79 lead. With nine seconds left in overtime, Dom Morris made one of two free throws to tie it, setting the scene for McKnight’s play.
Freshman forward Tim Kempton scored 18 points to lead Lehigh. Sophomore forward Jesse Chuku scored all 11 of his points in the second half, hitting a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left, which sent the game to overtime.
Sophomore forward Justin Goldsborough added 11 points as Lehigh (12-11, 5-5 Patriot League) won its fourth straight following five straight losses, the Mountain Hawks’ longest losing streak in 12 seasons. Lehigh improved to 3-0 in overtime games, all in the conference.
Senior guard D.J. Irving scored a game-high 25 points for Boston U. but missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer of regulation. He also missed a layup with 12 seconds to go in overtime. Morris added 17 points and eight rebounds, but made only three of eight attempts from the free-throw line.
With the loss, Boston U. (15-8, 8-2) failed to keep pace with league-leading American (14-7, 10-0), a winner Saturday over Holy Cross. The Terriers will host the Eagles on Feb. 19.
Sophomore guard John Papale had a chance to be a hero twice for Boston U. His 3-pointer with 1:22 left in regulation put the Terriers up 72-69. But McKnight answered immediately with a driving layup. In overtime, Papale hit a 3-pointer with 1:36 left that put Boston U. ahead 79-78. Again it was McKnight with the answer.
It was all Boston U. in the first half as it held Lehigh without a field goal for a 6:41 span, taking a 16-5 lead. When Papale closed the half with a 3-pointer, the Terriers had their biggest lead at 41-26.
Lehigh started fast after intermission. After committing four turnovers in the first half, freshman guard Austin Price made steals on back-to-back possessions and hit a layup and a 3-pointer. Chuku added 3-pointers at the beginning and end of a 13-4 run that started the half and put the Mountain Hawks back in the game.
