Jan. 4, 2011

It wasn't as if either the Lehigh University men's basketball team or the Mountain Hawks football squad had hit rock bottom.

In the 2008-2009 season, Lehigh's men's basketball program was above .500, going 15-14, but was just 5-9 in the Patriot League.

In 2009, the football team was 4-7 overall, but 4-2 in the Patriot League. Of its seven losses that season, five had come by seven points or less.

So, both programs were on the cusp of success entering 2010, and both certainly delivered.

And by winning Patriot League titles and advancing to the NCAA tournament, they combined to become The Morning Call's No. 5 local sports story of the year.

For the complete article by Keith Groller of the Allentown (Pa.) Morning Call click here