After setting the record for overtimes played in a Division I NCAA basketball season in the quarterfinals of the Patriot League Tournament, the number one-seeded Bucknell Bison were sunk in the semifinals by Navy in regulation, 83-77.
In a game that Navy had under control from the opening tip at high noon on Sunday at Sojka Pavillion, the outcome was anything but an upset.
Granted, Navy lost twice to Bucknell this season but both games were very competitive. Navy’s All-Patriot League guard Austin Benigni poured in 24 points for the fifth-seeded Midshipmen who handed their Bucknell host a disappointing loss and exit from a tournament that on paper looked very competitive.
With the return to Daylight Savings Time and a noon tip off to boot, Bucknell looked lethargic from the gate. Even with Navy getting into foul trouble early, Bucknell was unable to capitalize. On offense, Bucknell seemed much too tentative and had issues with Navy’s zone defense that brings with it nothing that Bucknell hasn’t seen before. Defensively, like in the Loyola game, Bucknell had trouble stopping Navy’s penetration to the basket.
That combination assisted in neutralizing the Sojka Pavillion crowd that was missing its strong student contingent that was there in force in Thursday’s OT win over Loyola Maryland. With Spring break commencing the following day, the student body was noticeably absent.
The midshipmen’s Jordan Pennick scored 15 points, going 4 of 10, including 2 for 6 from 3-point range, and 5 for 6 from the line. While fellow midshipman Jinwoo Kim hit 4 of 5 from the field, including 2 for 3 from the 3-point arc, and went 3 for 4 from the foul line to finish with 13 points. Patriot League Player of the Year Noah Williamson, the seven-footer from Lativa, led the way for Bucknell with 22 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. Junior guard Achile Spadone, a native of Geneva, Switzerland added 21 points and three steals. Senior guard Josh Bascoe from Milton, Ontario also had 16 points and three steals for the Bison. The loss for Bucknell broke a five-game winning streak to close out their season.
Coming into the game, you wondered how long Cinderella was going to hang around this Bucknell squad. Bucknell started the season an unimpressive 4-10, but went 15- 4 since. In Patriot League play, the Bison commenced with a 4-4 start but would win the next nine of 10. Despite the rollercoaster ride of a season and their strong finish and number one seed in the Patriot League Tournament, you got the feeling that such a run was doomed to crash and burn.
You could almost taste it with Thursday’s game when the eighth seeded Loyola Maryland Greyhounds went down by 17 early and on the road in the quarterfinals. It had all the makeup of an impending rout, however it was nothing but. If Loyola had hit their free-throws down the stretch, it would have been Navy hosting Sunday’s game against their Maryland rival, Loyola.
Bucknell proved that it is difficult to beat a fundamentally sound team three times in one season. That loss by the Bison will keep them home as Navy will take their basketball road show to Bender Arena Wednesday evening in Washington D.C. to take on the second-seeded American Eagles Wednesday night for the Patriot League championship. The winner, of course, punches their ticket to the NCAA national tournament with an automatic bid.
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