HAMILTON – It was an uphill battle, but Colgate rallied down the stretch to erase a 10-point deficit and come away with a 70-67 victory over Lehigh on Wednesday night at Cotterell Court.
Exactly two weeks ago, Colgate left Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with a 30-point victory over the Mountain Hawks. But for the second game in a row, the Raiders were facing a much different, healthier opponent.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Reed Fenton and Jordan Cohen fed Lehigh's confidence for a 54-44 lead midway through the second half.
Will Rayman got the Raiders going with a triple of his own before fighting for a pair of layups and finishing an and-one in an 11-4 Colgate run to cut the deficit to 58-55.
Nelly Cummings drained a 3-pointer and
Jordan Burns sank two free throws for a quick 5-0 spurt to tie the game at 60-60 with 5:58 left.
Rapolas Ivanauskas gave the Raiders their first lead since the first half 64-62 one minute later with a driving layup under the basket.
Colgate (21-7, 12-3 Patriot) held its two-point lead 67-65 when Burns blasted the shot of the game – a 40-footer off the backboard and in with his feet scraping the center-court Colgate logo to beat the shot clock with 27 seconds left and the Raiders were in front 70-65.
Lehigh (7-20, 4-11 Patriot) got a quick bucket from Jordan Cohen – who led the Mountain Hawks with 18 points – and Colgate could not ice the game from the free throw line, but the defense prevailed, forcing an off-target three as time expired and Colgate held on for the 70-67 victory.
Rayman led Colgate in scoring for the second straight game with 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Burns finished with 16 points and eight assists, while Ivanauskas posted 15 points and nine rebounds to lead Colgate's scoring contingent.
The game was delayed for 1:45 after a backboard shattered in pregame warmups. Opening tip-off was 8:45 p.m., and Colgate blitzed out to an early 9-0 lead after the interruption. Ivanauskas tested the maintenance crew with a pair of early jams and then Cummings splashed a corner 3-pointer inside the first two minutes.
Jack Ferguson started 2-of-2 from downtown and the Raiders extended their lead to double digits 23-13 midway through the first half. But after a layup by Ivanauskas at the 6:44 mark, Colgate could not buy a basket. An 0-for-7 cold spell with six turnovers over a 6:00 span sparked a 13-0 Mountain Hawks run.
Cummings ended the half on a positive note with a steal and driving layup off a Lehigh inbound pass in the final seconds to bring the score to 33-30 at the intermission.
Facing an uphill battle in the second half, Colgate sustained Lehigh's momentum to stay within striking distance. The Mountain Hawks led by as many as 10 (54-44) in the second half before the Raiders started their comeback.
Ivanauskas' go-ahead layup with 4:14 left was the second and final lead change of the night. Colgate stayed in front down the stretch and Burns struck the dagger with his long 3-pointer in the 70-67 victory.
BOTTOM LINE
Colgate 70, Lehigh 67
QUOTES
Head Coach Matt Langel
On the difference from two weeks ago:
"Lehigh slowed down the pace. They did not play nearly as high-tempo as they did two weeks ago. They changed their formula and got the ball inside. We did not make a number of shots when we got a lead and we were not able to extend it, because then it becomes a different game. We got into some foul trouble and it was one of those games; you just have to keep grinding and grinding. Credit to our guys, we did that and we found a way."
On finding a way to win:
"The bank was open late tonight in Hamilton. It would have been nice to make the foul shots instead or in addition, but sometimes that's the way it goes. We had a number of other shots that did not go. We just have to shoot open shots. As long as we are taking what the defense gives us, we will live with that. We limited our turnovers in the second half and assisted much better. Those were keys tonight."
Looking ahead:
"Holy Cross is a little bit depleted with some injuries, but they are fighting like crazy to establish their culture and their program. When you are the first place team, everybody is going to put their best foot forward against you. Holy Cross will be no different this weekend."
GAME NOTES
• Colgate has matched last year's 21 regular-season wins for the most in program history.
• The Raiders with the win clinched a Patriot League quarterfinal in Hamilton on March 5.
• It will be the third consecutive year Colgate hosts a quarterfinal matchup.
• A win Sunday clinches Colgate's second straight regular season title.
• Rayman with five boards moved into third all-time in career rebounds with 834.
• Only Adonal Foyle '99 (1,103) and Jack Nichols '57 (1,082) have more in the Maroon and White.
• With his 18 points, Rayman is now tied for third all-time in career scoring with 1,763 points.
• Burns reached double figures for the 16th consecutive game and finished with a +18 rating.
• Colgate improved to 15-0 this season when holding opponents under 70 points.
UP NEXT
Colgate stays home Sunday to take on Holy Cross at 2 p.m. The Raiders can clinch their second straight Patriot League regular season championship and fifth overall with a victory.
