ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Colgate rode a career-high 25-point performance from Keegan Records and used a fast start to cruise past Navy 69-50 Thursday night inside Alumni Hall.
 
Colgate led this one wire-to-wire. Records was dominant from the opening tipoff and took over in the second half, finishing with 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting from the field, including 16 of those points in the final 20 minutes. Records was also tied for the team lead in rebounds (7).
 
Nelly Cummings scored 16 points and dished two assists while drawing six fouls. Jack Ferguson added nine points and Ryan Moffatt scored seven in Colgate's balanced approach. Ferguson and Jeff Woodward each had seven rebounds to tie Records for the team lead.
 
Colgate (6-10, 2-1 PL) shot 50% from the field and held Navy (11-5, 4-1 PL) to just 33% en route to its second consecutive win over an unbeaten Patriot League opponent. The Raiders' defense shined bright, forcing 14 Navy turnovers, adding nine steals, and holding the Midshipmen without a double-figure scorer.
 
Colgate turned to Records early and often, and played lock-down defense to build an early lead. The Raiders forced five turnovers inside the first eight minutes and kept Navy to a 1-for-10 start from the field. Records scored the first seven points and then Cummings splashed a 3-pointer before back-to-back pull-up jumpers pushed Colgate's lead to 14-3.
 
The Raider lead stayed in double-digits after Sam Thomson sank two free throws with 7:06 remaining in the half. Navy connected on four straight attempts from the field, including a 3-pointer from Sean Yoder, to help pull the Midshipmen within seven at 24-17 two minutes later.
 
Navy's Yoder had another big 3-pointer to help trim Colgate's lead to 28-24 but that was as close as the home team would get. The Raiders responded with the last five points after Cummings completed a traditional three-point play and then Oliver Lynch-Daniels' breakaway layup as time expired stretched the lead to 33-24 at the intermission.
 
Moffatt swished a second-chance trey to cap a quick 7-2 Raider spurt early in the second half. A pair of 3-pointers from Tyler Nelson and Patrick Dorsey sparked an 8-2 run on the other end and Navy cut it to 49-43 with 13:11 left in the game.
 
That's when Records took charge, scoring six straight points in a 12-2 Raider run that chewed over 5:00 on the clock. Tucker Richardson and Ferguson knocked down a couple big shots during the run and then the defense took over, holding Navy scoreless over the final 5:39 to pull away for the 69-50 victory.
 
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Matt Langel

"I'm really proud of the group. Navy has put together a great season and they have managed the beginning of Patriot League play seamlessly. To come in here and beat a tough-minded, experienced team the way that we did – without shooting the ball well from the perimeter (3-for-20) – is a really good sign for us and our attention to detail. Our big guys figured it out offensively and took what the defense gave us.
 
"Hopefully we can continue to find a rhythm. We've had a little bit of bad luck with injuries but now that we're all back, playing and practicing and working to make each other better, hopefully we can keep playing well and growing as a group."

UP NEXT
Colgate returns to Cotterell Court on Sunday, Jan. 16, when the Raiders host Holy Cross at 6 p.m. The game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network.