HAMILTON, N.Y. (2/17/08) - Garrison Carr scored a game-high 24 points, including 18 in the second half, to rally league-leading American University to a 68-60 win over Colgate Sunday afternoon at Cotterell Court.

 

American (16-10 overall, 8-3 in the Patriot League) has sole possession of first place in the Patriot League with a one-and-one-half game lead over Navy.  Colgate falls to 12-13 overall and 4-7 in the league.

 

The only other AU player in double figures was Derrick Mercer with 18 points.  Colgate was led by Kyle Roemer (Martinez, CA) with 20 points and Kendall Chones (Cleveland, OH) with 10.

 

In the first half, Colgate shot 54 percent for a nine-point lead at halftime, while AU managed only 40 percent.  AU came back with 60 percent in the second half, including 7-of-10 from 3-point range, while Colgate dropped to 33 percent.

 

The Raiders edged AU in rebounding 27-26 led by Ben Jonson (Dallas, TX) and Daniel Waddy (Tucson, AZ) with five apiece.

 

American jumped out to a six-point lead in the first half leading 21-15.  Colgate rallied with 15 straight points for a 30-21 advantage behind eight points from Roemer.  That was the start of a 19-4 run to finish off the first half giving the Raiders a 34-25 halftime lead.

 

With Colgate leading 40-36 in the second half with 15:33 remaining, American finally found the range as the Eagles ripped off 14 straight points to take control of the contest.  Mercer and Carr combined for five points apiece in the run the finish with AU leading 50-40 with 8:59 left.  After AU increased its advantage to 11 points with 4:54 remaining, the closest Colgate would come was six points with 33 seconds left.

 

Colgate will entertain Lehigh on Wednesday night at Cotterell Court at 7 p.m.