EASTON, Pa. — Sometimes for Tyler Whitney-Sidney and Burke Chebuhar, their position on the roster is a guideline rather than a rule.
In Lehigh’s Patriot League quarterfinal contest against Lafayette College, Whitney-Sidney, a guard, played down in the paint like a forward, scoring 19 points – 10 on inside shots. And Chebuhar, a forward, played like a guard, shooting 6 for 7 from the 3-point line.
The two combined for 41 points in a comprehensive 76-61 victory at the Kirby Sports Center on Thursday. Lehigh will play Boston University in the semifinal round Sunday.
The win also avenged Lehigh’s loss to the Leopards at Stabler Arena in the same round a year ago. In that game, Lehigh trailed by 23 points at halftime. A frustrated Whitney-Sidney ripped his jersey in two and had to wear a different number in the second half.
Thursday night was different.
“I think that for me, it was confidence,” Whitney-Sidney said. “Every time I get the ball, I’m just taking my shots.”
Whitney-Sidney took 12 of those shots and made seven. He also finished with two of Lehigh’s 13 triples. The Mountain Hawks shot 65% from deep during the game, their highest mark of the season.
That uncharacteristic long-range sharpshooting helped Lehigh build its lead to as many as 25 points. The Hawks entered the game ninth in the Patriot League in 3-point percentage, averaging 31.4%.
Lehigh head coach Brett Reed argues a call during a Patriot League quaterfinal contest against Lafayette on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the Kirby Sports Center in Easton. Lehigh won 76-61 to advance to advance to the semifinal round. (Archer Benedict/B&W Staff)
Lehigh coach Brett Reed credited the team’s 3-point success to their willingness to share the ball.
“(Our players) can set each other up and continue to maintain their confidence and poise in those later-shot-clock type of shots,” Reed said.
The Mountain Hawks made a majority of their 3-pointers in the first half. The away team drained eight in the first frame, shifting Lafayette’s quick 7-2 start into a Lehigh offensive onslaught.
Whitney-Sidney, first-year guard Nasir Whitlock and Chebuhar all hit 3s in a span of two minutes to give Lehigh a 22-16 lead with 6:35 remaining.
Lafayette followed that with three straight buckets, including a layup by first-year guard Mark Butler with 4:16 left in the half. Butler led all Lafayette scorers with 11 points and cut the Lehigh lead to 24-22.
The Mountain Hawks responded with a 16-4 run to finish the half up 40-26. Lehigh’s lead never dipped below 10 points the rest of the way.
The Mountain Hawks continued scoring and draining triples down to the final minute. With 23 seconds left in the game, Chebuhar capped off his night – and the game’s scoring – with his sixth 3-pointer. Chebuhar’s 22 points were a game high.
Those outside shots allowed Whitney-Sidney room on the inside as the duo controlled the game in front of a near-capacity crowd, including a disappointed Lafayette student section that began leaving the arena with six minutes left.
“We’re getting people moving and out of the paint,” Chebuhar said. “We’re making more driving lanes when we make shots.”
Whitney-Sidney’s 19 continues a streak for the Massachusetts-native of scoring 15 or more points in the last six games. That streak included 20 points in a loss against Boston University on Feb. 28.
In his home state, he’ll have the chance for payback against the Terriers on Sunday in the Patriot League semi-final round. The winner will face either Colgate or Bucknell in the championship game.
“With family and friends there, I’m pumped about that,” Whitney-Sidney said. “But for me, that’s another game we got to win.”
Lafayette junior guard Devin Hines runs through a tunnel of teammates during the Patriot League quarterfinal contest Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the Kirby Sports Center in Easton. Lehigh won the contest 76-61 to advance to the semifinal round. (Archer Benedict/B&W Staff)
Lehigh first-year guard Joshua Ingram fights off Lafayette defenders Eric Sondberg and Mark Butler during a Patriot League quarterfinal contest Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the Kirby Sports Center in Easton. Lehigh won, 76–61, to advance to the semifinal round.
Lehigh first-year guard Joshua Ingram takes the ball up the court defended by Lafayette guard Mark Butler during a Patriot League quarterfinal contest Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the Kirby Sports Center in Easton. Lehigh won 76-61 to advance to the semifinal round. (Archer Benedict/B&W Staff)
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