Box Score

HAMILTON, N.Y. (2/27/10) – Senior forward Ben Jonson (Dallas, Texas) had 22 points and eight rebounds to complement 18 points and nine rebounds from senior guard Kyle Roemer (Martinez, Calif.) as Colgate defeated Navy 85-73, Saturday afternoon at Cotterell Court.

Symbolizing the changing of the guard on Senior Day, three underclassmen shined for Colgate. Freshman point guard Mitch Rolls (Coffeyville, Kan.) had a career-high 17 points and six assists, while sophomore forward Yaw Gyawu (Lilburn, Ga.) scored 10, and sophomore center Nick Pascale (DeWitt, N.Y.) posted nine points and nine rebounds.
   
Colgate outscored Navy 50-24 in the first half, shooting 56 percent from the field and holding Navy to just seven field goals. Rolls had 13 points and four assists on 5-of-6 shooting, Jonson scored 13, and Roemer pitched in 12 to go along with five rebounds in the first 20 minutes of play.
   
The Raiders trailed 9-8 before going on an 11-0 run capped by five points from Jonson, giving Colgate a 19-9 lead midway through the half.  Navy chipped away at the lead and trailed 22-15 after an O.J. Avworo jumper, but Colgate responded with an 18-4 run capped by a thunderous Jonson dunk, giving Colgate a 40-19 lead with five minutes left in the first half. Roemer had seven points during the stretch. Sophomore point guard Anthony Hill (Plano, Texas) ended the half with a three-pointer at the buzzer.
   
Navy racketed up the defensive pressure in the second half and created points off turnovers during a 12-2 run that cut Colgate's lead to 56-39. Pascale temporarily stopped the bleeding with a 15-foot jumper, but Navy guard Jordan Sugars banked in a three-pointer to bring Navy within 16. On a broken play, junior guard Joe Hoban (West Chester, Pa.) then hit a three-pointer as the shot clock expired, swinging the momentum back in Colgate's favor. After Navy guard Chris Harris missed a jumper, Roemer followed with a three-pointer to give Colgate a 64-42 lead with 12:11 left in the game.
   
Navy responded with a 12-0 run over 5:13 that ended with a Greg Brown bucket. Rolls ended the run with a layup and was sent to the line after getting fouled in the process. He missed the free throw, but Pascale was there with a tip-in to give Colgate a 14-point lead.
   
After a Pascale free throw stretched the Colgate margin to 15 points, Navy responded with a 7-0 run to crawl within eight 69-61, four points coming from Harris. Roemer then grabbed a crucial offensive rebound and put in a layup as the shot clock expired to jumpstart a 9-0 run that put the game out of reach.
   
The box score featured an odd set of numbers. Colgate out-rebounded Navy 47-30 and held Sugars, the second-leading rebounder in the Patriot League, to just one board. Navy also shot the ball 22 more times than Colgate, yet made two less shots. Colgate, however, committed 25 turnovers; most coming in the second half after Navy racketed up full and half-court pressure.
   
The Raiders held Patriot League leading scorer Harris to 18 points on 6-of-26 shooting. Sugars had 18 as well. Navy as a team made just 7-of-29 three pointers.
   
The Raiders have now won seven of their last eight home games against Navy.
   
Colgate (10-18, 6-8), has locked up sixth place, and will begin the Patriot League Tournament on Wednesday (March 3) at Lafayette. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m., and can be seen on Patriot League All-Access.