SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Colgate men's basketball was within seven points of national power Syracuse in the final six minutes before the Orange pulled away for a 72-58 win Saturday afternoon at the Carrier Dome.
 
Colgate drained 14 three-pointers, more than any other team Syracuse has played this year, to hang within striking distance of the 8-1 Orange. First-year Jack Ferguson led the way with a career-high 20 points thanks to six three-pointers. Senior Jordan Swopshire added 13 points, while sophomore Will Rayman registered 12.
 
Colgate held an early 5-3 lead after a three-pointer from senior Sean O'Brien and a Swopshire jumper, but the Orange stormed back with 10-straight points to pull ahead 13-5 at the 14:25 mark. Three-pointers from Rayman and O'Brien and a layup from junior Malcolm Regisford helped Colgate put eight of the next 10 points on the board to pull within 15-13 with just under 12 minutes to play.
 
Colgate hung within five at 23-18 following baskets from Rayman and Ferguson. Syracuse responded with a 13-2 run, however, to stretch the Orange lead to 36-20 with under two minutes left in the term. Swopshire and Ferguson drilled three-pointers in the final 1:11 to put the score at 38-26 heading into halftime.
 
The Orange scored the first basket of the second half, but Colgate quickly answered with an 11-3 run thanks to more treys from Ferguson and Swopshire that pulled the Raiders all the way within six at 43-37 with 15:27 on the clock.
 
Syracuse scored the next four points, but Ferguson drilled his fifth three-pointer of the game at the 11:34 mark as Colgate remained within seven at 47-40. The Orange stretched its advantage to 56-43 three minutes later, but Colgate answered with another run propelled by the long ball. Ferguson, O'Brien and Rayman all drilled threes, while Regisford added a jumper to help the Raiders put 11 of the next 16 points on the board and pull within 61-54 with 5:45 to play.
 
The Orange rattled off eight unanswered points over the next 3:10 to give Syracuse the separation it would need to secure the 72-58 win.
 
 
BOTTOM LINE

• Syracuse 72, Colgate 58

 
WON-LOST RECORDS

• Syracuse improves to 8-1 and 7-0 in the Carrier Dome this year.
• Colgate drops to 3-6 on the season.

 
KEY RAIDER INFO

• Ferguson's 20 points bested his previous career high of 12. The rookie was 6-for-12 from deep and added two points from the charity stripe.
• Swopshire was 5-for-9 from the field with three treys en route to his 13-point performance.
• Rayman led the squad with seven rebounds while adding 12 points.
• O'Brien and first-year Jordan Burns each dished a team-best six assists.

 
FACTS & FIGURES

• Colgate finished the game shooting 41.2 percent (21-for-51) from the field and 40.0 percent (14-for-35) from downtown.
• Syracuse shot 52.1 percent (25-for-48) from the floor, 36.8 percent (7-for-19) from three-point range and 68.2 percent (15-for-22) from the free throw line.
• The Orange finished the game with a 33-23 rebound advantage. Syracuse scored 28 points in the paint compared to Colgate's 10.
• The Raider bench outscored the Syracuse bench 24-5.

 
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Matt Langel

• "I think we got a lot of good shots and moved the ball well. We tried to play as the team that we are and take the open shot. Obviously with Syracuse's size, some of the shots we normally take had to be adjusted, but our guys continued to fight."
• "The guys know and believe in one another and what we're trying to do. We've had some strong showings against Syracuse, Boston College and UConn on the road this year. We'll be excited to get back on campus and play a home game against NJIT before exams get started."

 
UP NEXT

• Colgate returns home after a four-game road swing to host NJIT Tuesday.
• It will be $2 Tuesday at Cotterell Court with $2 tickets, $2 popcorn, $2 hot dogs and $2 fountain drinks.
• Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.