Bison

Bucknell Bison
BUCKNELL BISON
NCAA Division: Division I
Conference: Patriot League (1990-present)
Past Conferences: Middle Atlantic
City: Lewisburg, Pa.
Stadium: Sojka Pavilion
NCAA Tournaments: 8 (1987, 1989, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2018)
Championships:
National Championships: None
Conference Tournament Titles: 8 (1987, 1989, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2018)
Conference Regular Season Titles: 18 (1979, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
Team History
The Bucknell Bison are a Division I program located in Lewisburg, Pa. Bucknell currently competes in the Patriot League and is coached by Nathan Davis.
Bucknell authored one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history when, as a No. 14 seed, it beat third-seeded Kansas 64-63 in the 2005 first round. The Bison beat the odds once more in 2006, when they edged Arkansas 59-55 in the opening round as a No. 9 seed. In their six other trips to the Big Dance, the Bison were one and done.
The Bison have also been to the National Invitational Tournament three times, advancing as far as the second round in 2012. Bucknell has been one of the Patriot League’s consistent contenders, with 13 regular season titles since 1992. In fact, it won the league title eight times during a nine-year span between 2011-19.
The emergence of Mike Muscala, a two-time Patriot League Player of the Year, was certainly a key reason for that success. Muscala played for Bucknell from 2009-13, scoring a program-record 2,036 points. At the time he graduated, he was the only player in league history to surpass 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. The Bison went 92-42 during Muscala’s four seasons, winning a pair of Patriot League Tournament titles. In both cases, Muscala was named Tournament Most Valuable Player.
The Dallas Mavericks selected Muscala 44th overall (second round) in the 2013 NBA Draft. He was subsequently traded to the Atlanta Hawks on draft night and began his career playing overseas. When he debuted with the Hawks on March 2, 2014, he became the first Bucknell alum to appear in an NBA game. His number is now retired by Bucknell.
Davis, formerly at Division III Randolph-Macon in Ashland, Va., was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2017. Bucknell won the Patriot League in each of his first four seasons.
All-Time Records
Points Scored
o Mike Muscala: 2,036
o Al Leslie: 1,973
o Bob Barry: 1,809
Rebounds
o Hal Danzig: 1,134
o Mike Muscala: 1,093
o Bob Barry: 986
Assists
o Mike Joseph: 565
o Chris Seneca: 553
o Stephen Brown: 524
FAQs
Who is the winningest coach in Bucknell history?
Charles Woollum went 318-221 from 1976-94 and led the Bison to seven regular season titles, two conference tournament titles, and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
What is Bucknell’s overall NCAA Tournament record?
The Bison are 2-8 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, covering eight appearances. Their most recent victory came in the 2006 first round over No. 8 seed Arkansas.
Who holds Bucknell’s single-season scoring record?
Zach Thomas scored a school-record 716 points in 2017-18, earning Patriot League Player of the Year honors. Thomas went on to play professionally overseas after going undrafted.