EMMITSBURG, Md. (Interstat) — In a result that defied pregame projections, the Bucknell Bison remained undefeated early in the season by securing a hard-fought 73 to 62 road victory over the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers in a non-conference men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday night.

The contest, played before a crowd of 2,821 at a raucous Knott Arena, saw the Bison improve their record to 2-0 while the Mountaineers, heavily favored by statistical models, fell to 0-2. Interstat’s ELO system had given Mount St. Mary’s a 74.10 percent probability of winning, a forecast the visiting Bison systematically dismantled over forty minutes of disciplined play.

Bucknell established control of the game from the opening tip, building a methodical lead in the first half. The Bison’s offense operated efficiently against the Mountaineers’ defense, scoring 38 points before halftime. While Mount St. Mary’s managed to put up 30 points of their own, they consistently trailed, unable to string together the defensive stops necessary to overtake the visitors.

The second half followed a similar script, with both teams trading baskets in a tightly contested battle. Bucknell added 35 points to their total, demonstrating a consistency that kept the home team at arm’s length. The Mountaineers, despite a slight offensive improvement to score 32 points in the half, could never significantly cut into the Bison’s lead. The game’s total score of 135 points fell well short of the over/under line set at 145, indicative of a defensive struggle where offensive execution came at a premium.

For the Mountaineers, the loss was mitigated by a standout individual performance from Luke McEldon. The forward was a force on both ends of the court, leading all scorers with 21 points and pulling down a team-high eight rebounds in 30 minutes of action. His efforts, however, were not enough to spark a comeback.

Mount St. Mary’s also received significant contributions from guard Xavier Lipscomb. The Washington, D.C., native logged 36 minutes and filled the stat sheet with 16 points, six rebounds, and four assists, providing a secondary scoring punch. Anastasios Rozakeas added 10 points and four rebounds, while Justin Amadi chipped in nine points and five boards. Mason So, despite being held to just two points, facilitated the offense effectively, dishing out a game-high six assists.

The Bison’s victory was a testament to a balanced team effort. While no single Bucknell player posted the gaudy numbers of McEldon, the collective output proved more effective. The win builds on the momentum from their season opener, a 78 to 70 home victory against Delaware on Monday.

For Mount St. Mary’s, the search for their first win continues after a challenging start to the season. They opened their campaign on the road Tuesday with a 70 to 54 loss to a powerful West Virginia team. The schedule does not get any easier for the Mountaineers, who must quickly regroup for a neutral-site game against Albion on Saturday in Hanover, Indiana.

Looking ahead, Bucknell will aim to maintain its perfect record when it travels to face Princeton on Tuesday. That game begins a difficult stretch for the Bison, who will then host Hofstra before embarking on a three-game road trip that includes contests at Pittsburgh, Saint John’s, and Bowling Green in Fort Myers, Florida.

Mount St. Mary’s faces a gauntlet of its own following the Albion game. Their upcoming slate includes road tests at Saint Francis (PA), Cincinnati, Maryland, Western Michigan, and Ohio State before returning to Knott Arena to host Howard on November 29.

The Bison’s victory, secured in a hostile environment against a statistically favored opponent, signals a promising start to their 2025-26 campaign. For the Mountaineers, the loss underscores the need for refinement as they navigate a demanding non-conference schedule in hopes of finding their footing before league play begins.