Colgate Postgame Quotes

HAMILTON – Colgate's dream of back-to-back Patriot League championships ended here Wednesday night in a 64-61 defeat to Boston University. Here's a quick recap:
 
Boston University saved its best for last, there's no question about that. The Terriers simply outshot the Raiders on their home floor in front of their home fans. BU in the second half shot 56 percent (14-of-25) to rally from a 33-29 halftime deficit. Colgate shot just 35.7 percent (10-of-28) over the final 20 minutes and 37.1 percent for the game.

Colgate's four made 3-pointers were a season low. The Raiders were 1-of-10 from downtown in the second half, including three potential tying misses in the last 25 seconds. Colgate trailed 64-58 when Jordan Burns knocked down the only Raiders 3-pointer of the second half with 47 seconds remaining. BU missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 29 seconds left, but Tucker Richardson failed to connect on a corner trey. BU again missed a 1-and-1 chance with 17 seconds remaining, giving the Raiders one final look.

Colgate called timeout in the front court with 11.2 seconds showing. The Raiders got what they wanted with first Will Rayman and then Jordan Burns having great looks.

Neither went down and that was that.



Boston's Walter Whyte scored all 12 of his points in the second half to lead the comeback. Two of those came on 3-pointers. His outside partner, Jonas Harper, was 3-of-5 from downtown in the second half for nine big points. BU also pounded the inside, with Max Mahoney scoring 18 points on his way to Tournament MVP honors.

Others on the All-Tournament Team were Boston's Javante McCoy, Colgate's Burns and Rapolas Ivanauskas, and Bucknell's Avi Toomer.

Colgate's free throw touch also deserted the Raiders in the second half, when the Raiders were 7-of-12 as every point was precious. The Terriers won their first two Patriot League tournament games 69-63 over Navy and 64-61 against seventh-seeded Bucknell. Meanwhile, Colgate had swamped Lehigh 83-70 and Lafayette 89-64.

And Colgate knocked off BU twice during the regular season, winning 79-70 in Hamilton and 79-63 in Boston to gain control of the regular season race. There were four ties and 11 lead changes in the second half, but BU took the lead for keeps when Harper swished his third 3-pointer in a three-minute stretch to make it 56-53 with 7:02 remaining.

A tough omen for the Raiders saw Boston University score the game's first points on a jumper by McCoy. It was Colgate's first time to trail in the 2020 Patriot League Tournament.



Action was fast and furious from the start. The first whistle OF THE GAME came with 13:45 showing on the clock. The game was tied 8-8. Jack Ferguson sank his first three shots, including 2-of-2 from downtown. The second was part of a 4-point play after he was fouled as the ball swished through. The free throw made it 23-14 with 9:42 left for Colgate's largest lead of the game.

Ferguson finished with a season-tying 17 points, while Burns led all scorers with 21. Those two split Colgate's four 3-pointers with two apiece. Ivanauskas scored 13 and topped the career 1,000-point mark in the second half. He stands at 1,004. Colgate (18-1) lost for the first time this season when allowing fewer than 70 points.

Did you see Colgate Event and Marketing Coordinator Andrew Holcomb get the first clip of the net? It happened at halftime – a little maintenance issue that the 6-5 Holcomb handled with ease. The best part? Holcomb kept his little tourney memento.

Cotterell Court is so much fun when it's full. Thank you, fans! All 1,724 of you. Colgate's average season attendance topped the 1,000 mark (1,014) for the first time since the Adonal Foyle days.

The Raiders await word on any postseason possibilities.