Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (2/16/11) – Junior guard Mike Venezia scored a career-high 27 points including 11 in overtime to help lead Colgate past Lehigh 94-90 Wednesday night. The win snapped an eight-game losing steak at Stabler Arena and marked the first series sweep for the Raiders since the 2002-03 season.

Venezia shot 7-of-11 from the field including 5-of-8 from three-point range to lead the Raiders who made a season-high 12 from beyond the arc. Classmate Yaw Gyawu scored 20 points off 10-of-12 shooting, while sophomore point guard Mitch Rolls finished with 18 points and nine assists.

Lehigh (14-12, 5-6) finished regulation with a 13-5 run in the final five minutes to force overtime. The Mountain Hawks actually took a 72-69 lead with 1:50 remaining, but Venezia answered back with three-pointer to tie the game 72-72. After C.J. McCollum and Gyawu exchanged baskets, Rolls had the opportunity to win the game at the buzzer with a wide open three pointer, but the ball found the back of the iron to keep the score knotted 74-74.

Colgate (7-19, 4-7) outscored the Mountain Hawks 12-1 in the first four minutes of overtime, as Venezia scored six points to put the Raiders ahead for good 86-75. Colgate would make 8-of-9 free throw attempts down the stretch as Lehigh would score 15 points in the final 54 seconds, including a three pointer at the buzzer by Mackey McKnight to make the final 94-90.

Lehigh opened the game with a 15-9 run through the first five minutes of action. But Colgate bounced back with a 12-3 run over the next three minutes after a pair of three pointers from Rolls gave the Raiders a 21-18 lead. Both teams then exchanged baskets over the next seven minutes, before Colgate went on a 15-9 run to finish the half with a 43-33 lead. Gyawu led the Raiders with 14 points in the first half, while Rolls had 13 and Venezia eight.

The Mountain Hawks started the second half with a 14-3 run to take a 47-46 lead with 14:34 remaining. But Colgate responded with a three pointer from freshman Pat Moore to reclaim the lead 49-47 and then held the lead until the closing minute of regulation.

McCollum led Lehigh with a game-high 31 points and 15 rebounds, while Michael Ojo and Gabe Knutson scored 11 points apiece.

Colgate finished the game shooting 55 percent from the field (32-of-58) and 57 percent from three-point range (12-of-21), while holding Lehigh to 42 percent from the floor (28-of-66).

Colgate will host Bucknell on “Senior Day” Sunday, Feb. 20. The game is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. at Cotterell Court and will be live on Patriot League All-Access. The Raiders will also hold “Slam Dunk Alzheimer's” were fans that wear purple shirts get free admission.