LEWISBURG, Pa. – Jordan Burns poured in a game-high 28 points to go with a career-high nine rebounds and Rapolas Ivanauskas posted 20 points but it was not enough as Bucknell closed the second half strong to defeat the Raiders 84-81 on Wednesday night at Sojka Pavilion.
 
A back-and-forth second half started in Colgate's favor with the Raiders in front 40-36 at halftime. Burns dropped the first seven points out of the break and a second-chance slam by Ivanauskas kept the Raiders rolling 61-55 midway through the second half.
 
John Beeks and Burns traded three-pointers but from there Bucknell started its comeback. A 9-0 run gave the Bison their first lead since the score was 10-7 but Ivanauskas tied the game at 67-67 moments later with a deep three-pointer with 7:21 left.
 
The score remained deadlocked for the next two minutes. Neither team could ever pull away but a layup from Nate Sestina gave Bucknell the lead for good at 72-70. The Bison stretched their lead to seven and came up big at the free throw line, sinking 10 of their last 11 from the line to seal the victory. Burns hit a three-pointer as time expired in the 84-81 defeat.
 
Colgate started the game red-hot from the field, knocking down seven of its first nine shots, including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, to open a 20-12 lead with seven minutes gone in the first half.
 
Tucker Richardson hit a trey to give Colgate its largest lead of the game 27-14 and cap a 20-4 run midway through the opening frame. Another three-pointer from Jack Ferguson had the Raiders in control by 11 points until Bucknell closed on a 10-4 run to cut the deficit to four points at halftime.
 
Colgate and Bucknell battled with buckets on both ends throughout the second half but it was Bucknell getting the final momentum swing down the stretch. 
 
BOTTOM LINE
• Bucknell 84, Colgate 81
 
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate dropped to 9-7 overall and 1-2 within the Patriot League after the loss.  
• Bucknell improved to 8-7 on the season and 2-1 in league action.

FROM THE SOURCE
• Colgate head coach Matt Langel:

On the final result: "This was a high-level game in a great environment tonight. We left here last year with a bad taste in our mouth and I think our guys came out focused to get us an early lead. We just turned the ball over too many times and that has been our Achilles heel a little bit.

On the team's development: "We've got some work to do, we can certainly be better, but I think we are showing some signs of the team that we can be. We were more together tonight rather than just a group of individuals. I was proud of the guys and I am anxious to get back to work." 

Looking Ahead: "We have to get back on track. Saturday's game is just as important. Lehigh has distinguished itself as one of those teams that had a great non-league schedule and is off to a strong conference start as well. They are a talented offensive group so we will have to really focus on the defensive end and be competitive."

KEY RAIDER NOTES
• Ferguson extended his streak of consecutive games with a three-pointer to 13.
• Burns posted a new career high for the second straight game with a team-best nine boards.
• Richardson led the Raiders with seven assists. 
• Burns' 28 points were the most in a game since he scored 25 at Siena on Nov. 24.

BY THE NUMBERS
• Colgate shot 47 percent (31-of-66) from the field, 33.3 percent (9-of-27) from beyond the arc, and converted 11-of-14 free throws (71.4 percent).
• Bucknell finished 43.5 percent (27-of-62) from the floor, 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from three-point range, and 80.8 percent (21-of-26) from the charity stripe.
• The Raiders outrebounded Bucknell 42-28 and held a 20-11 advantage in second chance points.
• Bucknell scored 23 points off 18 Colgate turnovers.  

UP NEXT
• Colgate returns home to host preseason favorite Lehigh on Saturday.
• Tip-off from Cotterell Court is set for 4 p.m.