Bucknell

Vinnie Pini, a dangerous senior wide receiver and return man from Burlington Township, has made an oral commitment to attend Bucknell. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Pini, who also played defensive back, became the second South Jersey recruit this week to commit to Bucknell, joining Bishop Eustace center Mike Spear. Pini had 31 receptions for 452 yards and three touchdowns in helping the 6-4 Falcons earn a South Jersey Group 3 playoff berth. He also averaged 24.86 yards per punt return with three touchdowns.

Late in the fourth quarter yesterday, the trickle of rain had turned into a raw autumn deluge, but few in the crowd of 15,241 made a move to leave their seats. Franklin Field had suddenly come alive. In the north stands, the Bucknell fans waved soggy pompons and pleaded for some offense, just 7 yards of offense. In the south stands, the Penn fans begged the Quakers' defense to hold the line. On the field, trailing by 10-7, underdog Bucknell stood 7 yards from the goal line, only 7 yards from the go-ahead touchdown and a potential upset of the defending Ivy League champion.

Now that he's earned his 400th career coaching victory, La Salle men's basketball coach John Giannini doesn't expect things to be a whole lot different. "They're still going to charge me bus fare. If I go out to dinner tonight, they are still going to charge me there," Giannini said Saturday after the Explorers' 78-52 rout of visiting Bucknell. "The 400 doesn't really mean anything to me or any coach. But beating Bucknell to me is a big deal. " It should be. Last year when the teams faced each other, the Bison had their way with the Explorers, dropping them, 89-77, at La Salle.

When Jim Rullo went to preseason camp in October at Drexel, he had a big strike against him - the new coach, Bill Herrion. "I was going to cut him; I didn't need to carry another walk-on in the backcourt," Herrion recalled. Herrion gave Rullo a week. "That's all I needed," said Rullo, who set a defensive tone in camp that would mark the Dragons' rebirth this season. Last night against Bucknell, the 6-foot-2 sophomore from Malvern Prep scored a career-high 21 points and got five rebounds and four steals as the Dragons upended a very sound Bucknell club, 92-81.

Now that he's earned his 400th career coaching victory, La Salle men's basketball coach John Giannini doesn't expect things to be a whole lot different. "They're still gonna charge me bus fare. If I go out to dinner tonight they are still gonna charge me there," Giannini said Saturday following the Explorers' 78-52 rout of visiting Bucknell. "The 400 doesn't really mean anything to me or any coach. But beating Bucknell to me is a big deal. " It should be. Last year when the teams faced each other, the Bison had their way with the Explorers, dropping them 89-77 at La Salle.

So how did sixth-ranked Villanova look on opening night? Depends on the minute. Ragged for one possession, well-oiled the next. A pass to press row in the first half. Some perfect kickouts leading to smooth jumpers in the second. Nine turnovers before the break. Three afterward. About what you'd expect, in other words. Bucknell hung around Friday night, pulling within eight midway through the second half. But, as you'd also expect, Villanova had a little too much to really make it interesting - too much Corey Fisher, especially.

The final score in the Villanova Wildcats' 30-17 victory over Bucknell yesterday would seem to indicate that the game was the massive mismatch that had been expected. But for most of the first half, Villanova played as if it still were dazed from last week's thumping by Division I-A Wake Forest. Bucknell led 10-7 with 1 minute, 53 seconds left in the second quarter. Villanova's defense was mediocre. Its offense was sputtering. And its coach was getting jittery. "My worst fears were being realized," said Wildcats coach Andy Talley, who had worried that his team might enter the game with too little regard for Bucknell.

Kris Joseph had 17 points, Scoop Jardine added 14, and No. 1 Syracuse (12-0) cruised past visiting Bucknell, 80-61, on Tuesday night. It was only the second time Bucknell (7-5) has played the No. 1 team in the nation. Mike Muscala, Patriot League player of the year last season, finished with 14 points and seven rebounds for Bucknell. Ohio State 70, Lamar 50 - Jared Sullinger bounced back from his latest injury to score 18 points and grab 11 rebounds, leading the No. 2 Buckeyes (11-1)

Freshman Billy Owens had a career-high 27 points, and Syracuse outscored Bucknell by 26-8 at the end of the first half en route to a 104-81 first-round victory yesterday in the NCAA Midwest Regional. Second-seeded Syracuse (28-7) meets Colorado State, a 68-46 winner over Florida, tomorrow in Reunion Arena for the right to advance to next week's regional semifinals in Minneapolis. Syracuse played without starting center Derrick Coleman, who sat out the game nursing a sore back and muscle spasms.

The Bucknell women's lacrosse team, coming off a disappointing 3-10 season last spring, has had more problems with the weather than opponents this season. But co-captain Tricia Way hasn't let the snow and cold bother her. The senior from Phoenixville has scored 10 goals and 5 assists for the Bison, who are 2-6. Because of the snow and rain, the young Bucknell team wasn't able to play a home game until Saturday. Way and Eliza Wampler, a Conestoga graduate, are the only seniors on the squad.