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HAMILTON, N.Y. (12/28/11) – Three Raiders scored in double-figures but it wasn't enough as the Colgate men's basketball team saw its four-game home winning streak come to an end with a 80-70 loss to Quinnipiac Wednesday night at Cotterell Court.

Seniors Mike Venezia and Sterling Melville led the Raiders with 15 and 14 points, respectively, while junior Mitch Rolls scored all 10 of his points in the second half. Senior Nick Pascale pitched in eight points, while grabbing a team-high eight rebounds in the loss.

Colgate (5-7) scored the first four points of the game off a pair of free throws from Pascale and a 17-foot jumper by Venezia, but the Bobcats responded with seven-straight points to take 7-4 lead into the first media timeout. The Raiders then answered back with another 4-0 run to take an 8-7 lead, before both teams exchanged baskets for the next four minutes as the score was tied 13-13 with 11:15 left. The score remained tied until Colgate took a 24-20 lead off four-straight points from John Brandenburg, including a one-handed slam off a no look pass from Rolls. But the Bobcats responded by closing the half with an 11-0 run to take a 31-24 lead into the locker room.

The Raiders opened the second half with a 12-9 run to trim the lead to 40-36 with 15:40 left, but the Bobcats responded with an 8-0 run to build a 48-36 lead. Rolls then drained a three-pointer and Luke Roh converted the conventional three-point play to trim the lead to 50-42 with 12:20 remaining. Quinnipiac then built its largest lead of the game 57-42 with 10:46 left, before Venezia made a three-pointer and added another after a pair of free throws from Garvey Young to make the score 59-48. Both teams then exchanged baskets, before the Raiders put together a 17-11 run to make the score 70-65 with 1:12 remaining, but that was as close as the score would get as the Bobcats made critical free-throws down the stretch to hand Colgate its first loss at home this season.

Quinnipiac (7-5) was led by Ike Azotam who recorded his 10th career double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds, while three other Bobcats scored in double-figures. James Johnson finished with 18 points, while Zaid Hearst scored 16 and Dave Johnson pitched in 10.

Quinnipiac also won the battle on the boards 45-25, including an 18-10 advantage on the offensive glass. The Bobcats finished shooting 42.8 percent from the field, while Colgate made 40.3 percent of its shots. The Raiders did shoot well from downtown making 10-of-19 three pointers, while holding the Bobcats to just four. Colgate also forced 15 Quinnipiac turnovers to its 11, while dishing out 10 assists.

Colgate will travel to New Hampshire on Saturday, Dec. 31. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. at Lundholm Gymnasium.