EASTON, Pa. – Will Rayman drained the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute of regulation to lead Colgate to its first Patriot League regular season championship since 1996 with a 76-70 victory over Lafayette on Saturday at Kirby Sports Center.
With the win, Colgate clinched the top seed in the Patriot League Tournament. The Raiders have a first-round bye and will host the quarterfinals on March 7 against an opponent to be determined later.
In a back-and-forth second half, the score was knotted at 53-53 until Rayman knocked down a corner trey to ignite a 10-2 run for the Raiders, who led 63-55 with just over five minutes left.
Lafayette shot right back with a 10-2 run of its own and a 3-pointer from Justin Jaworski tied things up at 68-68. The score remained deadlocked after a Lafayette timeout.
With possession, Burns found Rayman at the top of the three-point line and the junior captain swished the go-ahead trey with just 45 ticks left.
Dana Batt and
Francisco Amiel combined to go 5-for-6 from the free throw line in the waning seconds to secure the Raiders' 76-70 victory.
Four Raiders finished in double figures.
Rapolas Ivanauskas scored 15 points and hauled in five rebounds. Batt finished with 12 points and five boards, while
Malcolm Regisford and
Jack Ferguson each scored 11.
Tucker Richardson corralled six rebounds and
Jordan Burns was one of three Raiders with two assists in the win.
Colgate was backed by its defense early with a pair of early steals from Burns and Rayman. The Raiders held Lafayette to a 2-of-11 start from the floor and claimed a 9-7 lead on a 3-pointer from Burns with six minutes gone in the first half.
Regisford, who tallied six points in the first half, finished back-to-back buckets in the paint to stretch the Raiders lead to 13-7. Alex Petrie scored four of the next six points for Lafayette and the two teams were tied at 15-15.
Ferguson knocked down his first trey from the corner to put Colgate back in the lead with just over six minutes left. Ivanauskas got involved with a bucket underneath the basket, and then back-to-back triples from Ferguson and Burns stretched Colgate's lead back to six points at 26-19 with just under four minutes showing.
Lafayette turned it on late with a 10-0 run over the final 3:41. Jaworski and E.J. Stephens hit consecutive 3-pointers to give the Leopards their first lead since it was 7-6. Myles Cherry added a layup in the final minute to give the home team a 31-26 lead at the break.
Batt had the first points of the second half but Lafayette started 5-of-7 from the field and led 41-35 at the first media timeout. The Leopards, who had three 3-pointers total in the first half, opened the second half 3-of-5 from beyond the arc inside the first seven minutes and led 45-37.
Richardson converted an and-one to spark six straight points for Colgate and make it 45-43. The Leopards ended the run with a 3-pointer, however, and regained a five-point lead at 48-43 with just under 12 minutes left.
Two more triples from Amiel and Ferguson gave the Raiders their first lead of the second half, 53-52. Ivanauskas drew a blocking foul and sank both free throws to start a 10-2 run for the Raiders, who pulled away for a 63-55 lead. The Leopards did not go away and responded with a 10-2 run to knot things up at 68-68.
Rayman hit the dagger and the Raiders sank their free throws en route to the 76-70 final.
BOTTOM LINE
• Colgate 76, Lafayette 70
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate is now 21-10 and 13-5 in the Patriot League with the win.
• Lafayette fell to 10-19 overall and 7-11 in league action after the loss.
• The Raiders wrap up the regular season 9-9 in road games.
FROM THE SOURCE
Colgate head coach
Matt Langel:
On winning the regular season title: "This is what every coach, every player, and every team sets out to do. The length of time between our two titles speaks to how difficult it is. We have been close a handful of years but this group has really been determined. I am immeasurably proud of this group, the players and coaches who have come before these guys, and the administration and what they have provided. To our team, this is a big deal."
On the game: "Our guys find a way to get things done and find ways to win. It has been a team effort. I am really happy for them. I have been in these types of games and you remember them forever, whether you end up on the winning end or losing end. We will take this with us and move forward."
On the tournament: "We will enjoy this one tonight. It is great that we are going to be home for as long as we can keep playing. At this time of year, the teams that play the best move on. Nothing else matters now except for what you do in your next game."
KEY RAIDER NOTES
• Colgate is the Patriot League regular season champion and No. 1 seed for the first time since 1996.
• This is Colgate's fourth regular season title in program history (1993-94, 94-95, 95-96, and 2018-19).
• The Raiders in 1993-94 earned a share of the title and were the No. 3 seed in the league tournament.
• Colgate has only been the No. 1 seed twice before and advanced to the NCAA Tournament both times.
• The Raiders set a new program record with their 13th league victory.
• Colgate has its first eight-game winning streak since 1945-46.
• The Raiders have won four road games in a row to get to 9-9 away from home this season.
• Regisford and Ferguson each finished in double figures for the second straight game.
• Ferguson knocked down three 3-pointers for the second consecutive contest.
• Batt's six free throws, including four in the second half, were a new career high.
• Colgate had 11 offensive rebounds and outscored Lafayette 17-6 in second-chance points.
UP NEXT
• Colgate is set to host the Patriot League Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 7.
• The Raiders will take on the winner of the 8 vs 9 matchup with opening tip set for 7 p.m. from Cotterell Court.
• Tickets for the quarterfinal matchup are available online, by calling the ticket office
(315) 228-4062, or by visiting the Reid Athletic Center during regular business hours.
