HAMILTON – Will Rayman scored 21 points in the second half and Colgate charged back from a 12-point deficit to defeat Boston University 81-69 in the Patriot League Tournament Quarterfinals on Thursday night at Cotterell Court. 

The top-seeded Raiders advance to the semifinals for the second straight year and will host fifth-seed Navy on Sunday at noon with a trip to the league championship on the line. 

Colgate's first time in the catbird seat since 1996 took a little getting used to. But the top-seeded Raiders prevailed and finally solved nemesis Boston University down the stretch. 
 
Boston University – which dealt Colgate its most recent loss and only home loss of the season back on Feb. 2 – shot 57 percent from the floor in the first half but could muster only 39 percent in the second. Colgate was the opposite, shooting 34 percent in the opening 20 minutes but then scorching the nets to 64 percent when it counted.

The Terriers took their largest lead of the game 42-30 on a 3-pointer from Javante McCoy -- who led the Terriers with 20 points in the game -- early in the second half. 

The Raiders found their rhythm from there and started the second half 7-of-8 from the floor. A flurry of 3-pointers from Jordan Burns, Rayman, and Richardson capped a 15-2 run over a four-minute span to turn a 42-30 deficit into a 45-44 Raider lead. 

Rayman, who opened the second term 4-of-5 shooting and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, knocked down another trey to stretch Colgate's lead to 50-46.

Boston University chipped away and a Burns 3-pointer squared things up 53-53 at the midway point of the half. It was deadlocked again at 58-58 but the Raiders took the lead for good on a layup from Ivanauskas and a dunk from Dana Batt on the next two possessions. 

A raucous Cotterell Court roared its approval as Rayman scored 11 straight Raider points to take the life out of Boston University and give the Raiders a 73-64 lead with 2:27 remaining.
 
Colgate ended the game on a 19-8 run, scoring 53 second-half points. Richardson capped the scoring with a layup and the regular-season champions proved their worth with a runaway 81-69 victory. 
 
Rayman finished with a game-high 26 points on 6-of-11 shooting from 3-point distance. He was 5-of-6 from downtown in the second half. Ivanauskas added 18 points and eight boards, while Richardson scored 12 and Burns 10. Richardson (8) and Burns (7) combined for 15 of Colgate's 20 assists.
 
Ivanauskas and Rayman each posted a block inside the first two minutes in what started as a defensive battle. Burns stole a stretch pass at the top of the key and set up Richardson for an and-one to give Colgate a 7-6 lead at the first media timeout.
 
Rayman drained the Raiders' first 3-pointer eight minutes into the half and Colgate opened a 14-12 lead.
 
Alex Vilarino had five of Boston University's next eight points to lead an 8-0 Terrier run that had the visitors in front 20-14 midway through the half.
 
Malcolm Regisford ended the scoring drought with a layup off a Terrier turnover. The senior battled for another bucket underneath before Jack Ferguson hit his first triple to cut the margin to 24-21 with just over six minutes left in the first half. 
 
The Raiders cut it to a 26-24 deficit on a traditional 3-point play by Ivanauskas, but a dunk from Max Mahoney capped six straight points for Boston University to give the Terriers a 32-24 lead at the final media timeout of the half.
 
Boston University opened its lead to double digits 37-26 before Burns buried an inside jumper on the Raiders' last possession to go into the locker room  trailing 37-28.

Colgate started its comeback in the second half and the two teams went back-and-forth before the Raiders pulled away for the 81-69 victory. 

BOTTOM LINE
• Colgate 81, Boston U 69
 
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate improved to 22-10 with the win.
• Boston University's season ends at 15-18. 
• The Raiders are now 13-1 at Cotterell Court.

FROM THE SOURCE

Colgate head coach Matt Langel:
 
On the tough start: "We felt like we had a little bit of pressure as the No. 1 seed and Boston University was already in the playoff mindset with their game on Tuesday. We were a little bit tight, but we know if we could get some early shots to fall for us in the second half then we could change the tide. That certainly happened, and Will led the charge."

On the team effort: "I really like our team and I believe in our guys. Everybody chipped in tonight; obviously Will took control down the stretch. We have been in different types of games and faced some adversity this year. We have learned that we can win different ways and that is the group that we have become this year. We have to bring it every game."  
 
Looking ahead: "Navy outplayed us in the second half the last time we faced them. They are playing as well as anybody right now and that is the team we have to prepare for on Sunday."
 
Colgate junior Will Rayman: 

On the comeback and season-high 26 points:  "We really fed off our defense. We knew we could hit shots. I was not great in the first half, but coach told me to keep on shooting and eventually I found my rhythm. The crowd was awesome tonight; they brought the energy."
 
KEY RAIDER NOTES
• The Raiders tie the school record for most home wins in a season with 13 (2017-18, 1926-27).
• This is the first time Colgate has won nine straight games since 1929. 
• Rayman's 26 points were a season high, plus he matched his career high with six made 3-pointers. 
• With seven assists, Burns set the school record for most assists in a season with 156.
• Richardson with eight dimes broke Colgate's freshmen record for most assists in a campaign with 121.
• The Raiders' 53 second-half points were a season high. 
• Colgate finished with 10 3-pointers for its ninth straight game with at least nine treys.
• Rayman with his six triples passed assistant coach Pat Moore for sixth all-time in career 3-pointers made with 192.
• Francisco Amiel is now tied with Sean O'Brien '18 for the most career games played in a Colgate uniform (127). 
• The Raiders forced 20 turnovers and outscored BU in points off turnovers, 31-10.

'GATE GRAG BAG
• Attendance at Cotterell Court was 1,277. 

UP NEXT
• Colgate will host Navy on Sunday at noon in the Patriot League Tournament Semifinals.
• The fifth-seeded Midshipmen upset fourth-seed American 60-56 Thursday night.
• The game will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.