Muscala Wins Third Straight Patrot League Player of Week Award

Senior Now has Five Player of Week Honors this Season, Nine in Career

Mike Muscala

Jan. 21, 2013

LEWISBURG, Pa. - On the strength of two more 20-10 games last week, Bucknell senior Mike Muscala (Roseville, Minn./Roseville) has garnered Anaconda Patriot League Player of the Week honors for the third straight week, fifth time this season and ninth time in his career. Muscala led the Bison to a pair of victories over Colgate and Lafayette, which pushed the team's record to 16-3 overall and 3-0 in the Patriot League.

In Wednesday's 73-59 win at Colgate, Muscala was within sight of a triple-double, as he posted 25 points, 10 rebounds, seven blocks and four assists and did not commit a turnover in 34 minutes of action. Muscala went 9-for-16 from the field and 7-for-8 from the foul line. He scored 15 of his 25 points in the second half to help Bucknell break open a three-point game at the half. The seven blocks marked a season high and fell one short of the program record, of which he holds a share.

On Saturday at Sojka Pavilion, Muscala produced 27 points and 15 rebounds in a 66-51 win over Lafayette. He corralled a career-high nine offensive rebounds in the game and finished 12-for-24 from the field. The 24 attempts marked a new career high, and the 12 made field goals were one shy of his personal best.

Muscala has now recorded at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in four straight games, and he has logged a double-double in five straight and seven of his last eight games. Muscala's 13 double-doubles this season is tied for the national lead.

Muscala ranks sixth nationally in rebounding (11.2), 16th in scoring (20.1) and 20th in blocked shots (2.7), and he leads the Patriot League in each of those categories. He is the only player in the nation averaging at least 18 points and 11 rebounds per game.

In Patriot League play, Muscala is averaging 24.0 points, 12.7 rebounds, 4.0 blocks and 4.0 assists per contest.

Muscala is closing in on the single-season record of six Patriot League Player of the Week awards, set by Lehigh's C.J. McCollum in 2010-11 and 2011-12. McCollum also holds the career record of 14, while Muscala has moved into sole possession of second place with nine weekly honors.

Bucknell puts its unbeaten Patriot League mark on the line on Wednesday in a showdown with Lehigh at Sojka Pavilion. The contest pits last year's Patriot League regular-season champion (Bucknell) against the Patriot League Tournament champ (Lehigh). Both teams are 3-0 in the league and are a combined 29-7 overall.