Dallas ? Kansas University last year, Arkansas this year. The Bucknell Bison sure are taking down some historic programs on their way to making a name for themselves.
The Patriot League champions moved to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year Friday, this time taking the unusual route of making more three-pointers than twos in a 59-55 victory over the Razorbacks.
Charles Lee and Kevin Bettencourt combined for 42 points and nine of Bucknell’s season-high 11 threes, many of them fired when the shot clock was nearly running out. The Bison (27-6) made only six shots inside the arc, going more than 15 minutes between them at one point.
“Wow,” Lee said, marveling at the bizarre box score. “We were just feeling it today.”
Bucknell usually doesn’t play that way. Then again, in their academic-oriented conference, the Bison usually don’t face teams as big and quick as Arkansas (22-10).
“Hey, we held them to 37 percent shooting – that’s great defense,” Razorbacks coach Stan Heath said. “You can say we didn’t defend the three, but about four were with 1 second, 2 seconds left on the shot clock, guys on them and they get it off, and it goes in.”
Bucknell led for most of the game, but began fizzling after going up by 10 midway through the second half. Lee hit the Bison’s final three with 3:42 left, and they had to sweat it out from there.
The Razorbacks tied it at 55 on a pair of free throws with 1:15 left. Although Lee and Bettencourt missed three straight free throws with about a half minute left, Arkansas failed to capitalize.
Ronnie Brewer missed a tying jumper with about 15 seconds left. The rebound caromed off several bodies, then made its way to the shortest player on either team, 6-foot Abe Badmus of Bucknell. He was fouled with 7.9 seconds remaining.
Badmus, the starting point guard, was in his 34th minute but hadn’t taken a shot. He made both free throws, even with the Razorbacks calling timeout after the first one.
“I wasn’t really thinking about” the circumstances, he said. “I just let my muscle memory take over.”
After becoming the first Patriot League team to win an NCAA game last year, the Bison will try Sunday to become the first to win in the second round. They’ll play top-seeded Memphis, meaning a chance to notch another big name on their hit list.
