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HAMILTON, N.Y. (1/17/11) – Junior center Nick Pascale scored a game-high 14 points to go along with five blocked shots to lift the Colgate men's basketball team to its first home win of the season 67-64 over Dartmouth Monday afternoon at Cotterell Court.

Pascale scored 10 points and recorded four blocks in the second half to hold of a Dartmouth team that battled back after trailing by as much as 15 with 13:47 remaining in regulation. Classmates Yaw Gyawu and Mike Venezia each scored 11 points, while guards Mitch Rolls and Joe Hoban pitched in eight apiece. Hoban led the team with eight rebounds, while Rolls dished out a game-high six assists.

After trailing 10-7 through the first five minutes of the game Colgate went on a 15-0 run to build a 22-10 lead. A lead that the Raiders would never relinquish. Venezia and sophomore forward Brandon James each scored five points during that run. Both teams would exchange baskets for the next seven minutes of action as Colgate held a 32-23 lead. The Big Green would get a three pointer from Jabari Trotter in the closing minutes to trim its halftime deficit to 33-26.

Colgate (2-15) opened the second half with a 14-6 run, capped off by a two handed jam from Pascale. The dunk gave the Raiders their largest lead of the game 47-32. Dartmouth responded with three-straight three pointers including back-to-back trifectas by Tyler Melville to trim the lead to 47-41 with 11:49 remaining. The Raiders would answer back with a couple of baskets from Gyawu and Venezia to regain a 10-point cushion 51-41. But Dartmouth would go on a 23-14 run, including another three pointer from Trotter, to trim the lead to 65-64 in with seven seconds remaining. But the Big Green had to foul and Venezia made both of his free throw attempts. R.J. Griffin then missed a three pointer at the buzzer to give Colgate its second win of the New Year.

Dartmouth (4-11) was led by Trotter who finished with 14 points, while Melville scored all 12 of his points in the second half. The Big Green were able to stay in the game by nearly shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc (7-for-18), while holding the Raiders to just 20 percent (3-for-15). But Colgate won the battle on the boards 38-28 and finished with a 41.5 shooting percentage, while holding Dartmouth to just 35.2 percent.

Colgate will conclude its three-game homestand on Wednesday, Jan. 19 when Lehigh comes to town. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Cotterell Court and will be live on Patriot League All-Access. Fans that bring an article of clothing from another college or university will receive one free general admission ticket to the game.