BETHLEHEM, Pa.– William Blet scored a game-high 32 points, but Eastern University Men's Basketball fell just short in a 70-63 loss at Lehigh University. The Eagles held a 30-28 lead at halftime and were within two possessions for most of the second half.

The standard formula for a D3 program forging an upset against a D1 opponent involves hot shooting from the perimeter. That was not the case for the Eagles. The bigger Mountain Hawks did not give the Eagles good looks from the perimeter, and Eastern was 0-for-11 in the game. With Blet able to finish with either hand inside and the Eastern guards able to turn the corner and get to the rim, the Eagles held a 42-28 edge in points in the paint.

The Eagles also used a variety of different defenses to rip 14 balls away. Kaeshawn Ward had four steals in the game and Jaron Fairweather had three.

After the Eagles built the lead to 36-30 early in the second half, the Mountain Hawks (2-10) found their range from distances. With the Eastern defenses scrambling to keep the ball out of the post and to try to force turnovers, the hosts were, when they solved the pressure, able to get good looks from the perimeter. They hit a pair of shots from distance in a 10-to-3 run that put them on top.

After Blet hit a tough jumper inside to tie the game at 41-41, the Mountain Hawks hit two more 3-pointers on either side of a Draig Cooley free throw to build a 47-42 lead. Lehigh was 6-of-10 from behind the arc in the second half.

The Eagles cut the Mountain Hawk lead to four on several occasions over the final minutes, but Lehigh made free throws and contested shots to keep the Eagles (9-2) from getting closer.

Despite giving up inches in the post, Blet was 13-of-27 from the floor and finished with seven rebounds two blocks and a steal. It is the second consecutive game that Blet has hit for a career-high. 

Tonight's contest was technical an exhibition game for Eastern and a countable game for Lehigh. Friday's game at the University of Pennsylvania will be a countable game for both sides.

"I think tonight was an obvious example of the grit and toughness our guys have," Head Coach Dan Pruessner said after the game. " That being said we still have to hit shots down the stretch. These guys fought hard but we are still disappointed with the loss."

Eastern will play Penn in the historic Palestra at 1:00 pm on Friday before returning to MAC Commonwealth play next week. Fans seeking to attend the game should take note of Penn's attendance policy.