Predictions for Feb 9th

Record: 117 - 44 ( 11-6 GOTD )


Games of the day

Holy Cross at Bucknell

The top two teams in the Patriot League meet in what should decide the regular season championship. Holy Cross is undefeated in league play and in the process gave Bucknell their only loss in conference on January 12th, 65-60. The Bison have recovered nicely from their early season struggles that included a loss to Central Arkansas, who is playing their first year in Division 1. These teams are very evenly matched and I see home court advantage being the deciding factor.

Bucknell 66 Holy Cross 64

Belmont at Lipscomb

Another matchup of two of the top contenders in their league. Like the Drexel - Hofstra game last night, there is definitely a contrast in size in this one. Belmont is led by do-it-all guard Justin Hare, but they have something Lipscomb doesn't - big men. Joining Hare, they also have 6'10 255 Boomer Herndon, a transfer from Tennessee, and 6'10 210 Andrew Preston. However, that doesn't mean they're any good at rebounding the ball. In their previous meeting, a 55-50 loss, little Lipscomb actually outrebounded the Bruins, including 15 offensive boards. How they managed to lose when the Bisons shot 3-26 from the arc, I'll never know.

Well if they can't rebound with that size or match Lipscomb's fantastic guard trio ( Eddie Ard, Brian Fisk, and Trey Williams ), how will they win? Defense. That's something they are great at as they're top 40 nationally in FG%, 3PT FG%, and 2PT FG% defense. My prediction is Belmont and Lipscomb split the season series by winning on each other's home court and the Bruins move exactly one game back of East Tennessee State in the standings.

Belmont 64 Lipscomb 61

Ivy
Yale 68 Columbia 63
Penn 81 Dartmouth 64
Cornell 64 Brown 57
Harvard 61 Princeton 50

MAAC
Niagara 74 St. Peter's 60
Siena 66 Iona 63
Manhattan 74 Rider 72
Loyola ( MD ) 79 Canisius 73

NEC
Fairleigh Dickinson 72 St. Francis ( NY ) 61