C.J. McCollum scored 23 points to lead Lehigh to its first win in three games this season, a 72-61 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Tuesday night.
McCollum, a junior guard who averaged 21.8 points per game last season, scored 17 points in the second half. He was 8 of 9 on free throws, a category in which the Mountain Hawks (1-2) had a huge advantage. They made 26 of 30 free throws to 4 of 10 for the Knights (0-2).
Lehigh took the lead for good, 19-18, on a layup by Holden Greiner with 7:33 left in the first half and led 32-26 at halftime.
After the Knights got within 34-31, baskets by Greiner, Gabe Knutson and Mackey McKnight, followed by two McKnight free throws, pushed the margin to 42-31.
Knutson had 16 points and McKnight 12 for Lehigh.
Kinu Rochford led Fairleigh Dickinson with 18 points and 15 rebounds.
