Czyz, UNR top Bucknell for NIT win
RENO -- Bucknell coach Dave Paulson said his plan was to stop UNR scoring leader Deonte Burton, the Western Athletic Conference player of the year.
That let Olek Czyz take advantage for the Wolf Pack.
Czyz scored 24 points as UNR defeated Bucknell 75-67 in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament on Sunday.
"I felt like I had a mismatch all night," said Czyz, a 6-foot-8-inch power forward. "I was just going at them. No matter who was guarding me, I found a way to score."
The fifth-seeded Wolf Pack (28-6) advanced to the quarterfinals Wednesday against the winner of today's Illinois State-Stanford game.
No. 8 seed Bucknell (25-10) rallied from a 42-29 halftime deficit to within three points with 44.6 seconds left after two Mike Muscala free throws.
Bison guard Bryson Johnson missed a potential tying 3-pointer with 30 seconds left. After a turnover by Bucknell forward Joe Willman, Burton sealed the victory with two free throws.
Burton finished with 10 points, five below his average. Malik Story scored 18 points and Dario Hunt eight.
For Bucknell, Muscala scored a game-high 25 points and had 15 rebounds, but he also committed six turnovers.
