Cleveland Richard scored 15 points and Army advanced to the Patriot League tournament semifinals with a 53-50 victory over Lehigh on Wednesday night. Marcus Nelson added a season-high 13 points for the fourth-seeded Cadets (11-18), who will play at top-seeded American on Sunday. Nelson, the conference's defensive player of the year, held Marquis Hall, a first-team all-conference selection, to 10 points on 1-of-13 shooting, including 1-of-9 from 3-point range. Zahir Carrington had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Mountain Hawks (15-14), while John Adams added 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Cadets led 36-24 with 13:40 to play, but fifth-seeded Lehigh closed within 46-45 on two free throws by Hall with 1:56 to go. Richard then hit a 3-pointer with 1:34 left. It was the third straight year the Cadets beat Lehigh in the quarterfinals with all the games decided by three points or less.
Army 53, Lehigh 50
Cleveland Richard scored 15 points and Army advanced to the Patriot League tournament semifinals with a 53-50 victory over Lehigh on Wednesday night. Marcus Nelson added a season-high 13 points for the fourth-seeded Cadets (11-18), who will play at top-seeded American on Sunday. Nelson, the conference's defensive player of the year, held Marquis Hall, a first-team all-conference selection, to 10 points on 1-of-13 shooting, including 1-of-9 from 3-point range. Zahir Carrington had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Mountain Hawks (15-14), while John Adams added 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Cadets led 36-24 with 13:40 to play, but fifth-seeded Lehigh closed within 46-45 on two free throws by Hall with 1:56 to go. Richard then hit a 3-pointer with 1:34 left. It was the third straight year the Cadets beat Lehigh in the quarterfinals with all the games decided by three points or less.