Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. (12/30/09) -- Alvin Abreu had 24 points and eight rebounds as New Hampshire defeated Colgate, 63-55, Wednesday night at Lundholm Gymnasium.

Abreu made 7-of-13 field goals, 10-of-12 free throws and was one of three Wildcats to grab at least eight rebounds. Controlling the boards was the difference on the night, as New Hampshire out-rebounded Colgate 44-27.
   
Senior forward Ben Jonson (Dallas, Texas) led Colgate with 14 points, while classmate guard Kyle Roemer (Martinez, Calif.) pitched in 13 points and seven rebounds. Junior guard Joe Hoban (West Chester, Pa.) continued a strong string of play by accruing seven points and a career-high five steals.
   
The first half was an offensive struggle for both teams. Colgate did not score its first point until sophomore center Nick Pascale (DeWitt, N.Y.) converted a three-point play with 14:06 left in the first half. Pascale's efforts started a 9-0 Colgate run that gave the Raiders an early 9-6 lead. New Hampshire responded with a lay-up from Dane Diliegro and an Abreu three-point play to retake an 11-9 lead, but Roemer responded with a three-pointer to give Colgate a 12-11 advantage. That would be Colgate's last lead of the game, as Abreu tied the game with a free throw, which started a 17-6 Wildcats run to finish the half 27-18.
   
New Hampshire continued the pressure in the second half, stretching its lead to 19 points after a Diliegro lay-up gave the Wildcats a 46-27 lead with 12:23 left. Colgate then stormed back with an 11-0 run to cut New Hampshire's lead to eight points with 6:47 left. New Hampshire maintained an eight-point lead before Colgate attempted a furious comeback with less than a minute left. Jonson made a three-pointer with 43 seconds left to bring Colgate within 57-52. The Raiders immediately fouled Abreu, who converted two free throws. Freshman point guard Mitch Rolls (Coffeyville, Kan.) drilled a three-pointer to get Colgate within four points. Colgate fouled Abreu again, who made one free throw. The Raiders took two shots to cut the Wildcats lead to three points on the other end, but neither attempt fell in. Tyrone Conley, who scored 13 points for UNH, made two free throws to seal the game for the Wildcats with eight seconds left.
   
New Hampshire improved to 5-5 on the season, while Colgate fell to 1-10 for the first time since the 1988-89 season.
   
The Raiders will now begin a five-game home stand on Saturday January 2, when they face Longwood at 2 p.m. Colgate will play out-of-conference games against Central Connecticut State and North Carolina Central before Patriot League contests get underway versus Army and Lafayette during its stay at Cotterell Court.