Courtesy of BucknellBison.com.
LORETTO, Pa. – Cameron Ayers scored 13 points and Mike Muscala, Bryson Johnson and Joe Willman added 12 each to lead Bucknell to a 76-49 win over Saint Francis (Pa.) and the program’s first 10-1 start since 1926-27. The Bison raced to a 42-19 halftime lead, and the reserves closed it out with some extensive minutes down the stretch.
In the midst of a stretch where they play four times in eight days, the Bison were able to get their starters an early break. All five starters were out of the game with 12 minutes to play, and despite some turnovers, the bench extended a 25-point lead into a 27-point victory. Freshman Chris Hass came on and scored his first seven career points. Steven Kaspar and Ben Brackney scored five points apiece and Dom Hoffman added four.
“I was very pleased with the unselfishness that we showed,” said head coach Dave Paulsen. “Saint Francis has played some teams tough from our league, and this has historically been a very tough place to play, so we were concerned coming in. With two more games coming up this week, I am pleased that we were able to rest some guys, and I am excited that some guys who we are going to be counting on were able to get some extended minutes.”
With eight minutes left in the half Bucknell’s lead was just four at 16-12 after Ollie Jackson knocked down a 3-pointer for the Red Flash. But the rest of the stanza was all Bison thanks to some hot long-range shooting.
After starting the game 0-for-5 from 3-point range, Bucknell hit five in a row from the arc, and in less than three minutes that lead grew from 16-12 to 33-14. Ayers answered the Jackson three with a step-back trey from the top of the key. After Earl Brown hit two free throws for Saint Francis, Johnson connected on two straight threes to ignite a 14-0 Bison surge. Willman drove the lane for a lefty layup and then Ayers drilled two straight from deep to put the Bison up by 19.
Willman hit two more baseline jumpers off assists from Ayers, and Johnson made 3 of 4 free throws on a double-technical on the Saint Francis bench to make it a 42-19 game at the half. Bucknell shot 57.7 percent in the first half, while Saint Francis went just 5-for-25 from the field (.200).
Muscala scored six points in the first 3:45 of the second half before heading to the bench. Muscala moved into second place in Patriot League history in both rebounds and blocks. On the rebounding chart he passed Lafayette’s Stefan Ciosici with 832, and on the blocks chart he leapfrogged Colgate’s Jason Whatley with 216.
Earl Brown led Saint Francis (0-9) with 12 points off the bench. Umar Shannon, who came in averaging 15.3 points per game, was held to seven on 2-for-11 shooting.
Bucknell shot 55.1 percent overall and went 6-for-13 from the 3-point line. The Bison finished with a 43-23 rebounding edge and held the Red Flash to 29.6 percent shooting. Saint Francis was just 3-for-23 from 3-point range.
The Bison are back in action on Wednesday at home against Marist at 7 p.m.
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