Nov. 13, 2009

Center Valley, Pa. - Seven Patriot League Men's Basketball teams opened the 2009-10 season on Friday night, and Lafayette came away as the lone winner of the group as the Leopards knocked off Wagner, 81-72, at home.

Jared Mintz led the Leopards with 20 points and 10 rebounds for his third-career double-double, while Ryan Willen (15), Jeff Kari (14) and Jim Mower (12) all scored in double figures.

Lafayette Head Coach Fran O'Hanlon became the first Patriot League men's basketball coach to enter a 15th season. The results were not as positive for two coaches making their collegiate debut on Saturday. Holy Cross' Sean Kearney saw the Patriot League favorite Crusaders open with an 87-77 loss at home to Harvard, while Zach Spiker and Army fell at VMI, 93-86.

In other action, defending champion American fell on the road at St. Francis (Pa.), 65-61, after holding an 11-point halftime lead. Lehigh lost at Richmond, 65-53, Navy fell at Radford, 76-65, and Bucknell lost to Mercer, 89-80, in the first game of the World Vision Invitational in Providence.

Only the Bison are in action on Saturday, as they play at Providence in the second game of the invite.

The Patriot League will provide a brief synopsis and links to school recaps and box scores on the men's basketball page every night during non-League play, and continue the expanded recaps once League action begins. School recap and box score links are also available on the men's basketball composite schedule, where any live stat, audio and video links are provided prior to each contest.

The scores from Friday night are listed below, with the links on each school name going to the institution's recap and box score from the contest.

at Lafayette 81, Wagner 72
Mercer 89, Bucknell 80 (World Vision Invitational - Providence, R.I.)
Harvard 87 at Holy Cross 77
at VMI 93, Army 86
at St. Francis (Pa.) 65, American 61
at Richmond 65, Lehigh 53
at Radford 76, Navy 65