BOSTON – Colgate scored a season-high 53 points in the first half and carried its fast start to an 86-79 triumph over Boston University on Saturday in the first of two games this weekend at Case Gym.
Preseason Patriot League Player of the Year
Jordan Burns wasted no time igniting the Raiders in the first meeting between the two teams since last year's title game. He had 21 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 26 to go with five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Nelly Cummings and
Tucker Richardson scored 14 points apiece, and
Jack Ferguson chipped in with 12 points to lead the Raiders' scoring contingent.
Boston University (1-2, 1-2 PL North), the Patriot League preseason favorite, scored the first basket of the game and then Colgate jumped on a 10-2 spurt to take the lead for good. Burns was a catalyst in the early going, knocking down his first three attempts from the perimeter.
The two teams traded baskets through the middle stages of the half until Colgate closed the frame on a 12-2 run. Cummings and Richardson drained a pair of 3-pointers around an inside layup from
Keegan Records and the Raiders held a 53-42 lead at the intermission.
Colgate (2-1, 2-1 PL North) was on fire in the first half, shooting 61% from the field and 54% from beyond the arc with just one turnover. The Raiders continued their hot shooting early in the second half and built an 18-point lead 73-55 after an
Oliver Lynch-Daniels layup capped a 10-3 streak.
The Terriers inched their way back and a 3-pointer from Javante McCoy capped a 7-0 run to trim the margin to seven but that would be as close as the home team would get. Ferguson capitalized on his free throws and the Raiders took care of business in the first of two games this weekend against the defending Patriot League champions.
From the Source
Head Coach Matt Langel
On the game:
"I was proud of the group. As you would expect from a group that has achieved all that we have, we had a good week of practice to get ready for a talented Boston team. We got off to a great start and that's always nice to do on the road. It was back-and-forth for a while, but we kept it going. We got enough stops on defense and our transition offense was terrific. We knew they'd be good on the glass, but we did a nice job of fighting for rebounds and turning those rebounds into transition points the other way.
"Especially on the road, we have to start the half well and close the half well. We took care of the basketball the entire evening and that certainly helped us."
On the rematch Sunday:
"We have to be ready for whatever the game script determines. We learned last week that the identity of Sunday's game can and will be different. It's a young season for both teams. Boston is going to be motivated to defend their home court and fight for the split on Sunday. We need to be ready to put our best foot forward and play our best game."
Key Stat of the Game
Colgate had just four total turnovers to Boston University's 12. The Raiders outscored the Terriers 18-2 off those turnovers.
Notes
·
Jordan Burns has reached double figures in scoring in 25 consecutive games.
· That streak started in the final nonconference game of the 2019-20 season.
·
Tucker Richardson has scored at least 13 points in each of the first three games of 2021.
·
Keegan Records had 10 rebounds – his third consecutive game with double-digit boards.
· Colgate has not lost back-to-back conference games since mid-February, 2018.
Up Next
Colgate and Boston University square off again Sunday in a 6 p.m. tipoff at Case Gym. The game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network.
