BALTIMORE – Colgate shot 60 percent and scored a season-high 53 points in the second half to rally past Loyola 86-80 on Wednesday inside Reitz Arena.
Six Raiders reached double-figures led by Jalen Cox who finished with 17 points. Andrew Alekseyenko posted his first career double-double with 16 points and 15 boards. Sam Wright added 12, while Josh Ahayere, Ben Tweedy, and Kyle Carlesimo each had 11.
COACH LANGEL'S COMMENTS
"We've had three different types of wins on the road to start league play. Our group has found a way each time. Tonight, credit Loyola and their players for stepping up and making big shots. It took all of us. Our two seniors – Kyle Carlesimo and Brady Cummins – make five 3-pointers in the second half on a night Loyola was doing some really impressive things. We came through in big moments down the stretch. Gutsy performance by our guys."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Carlesimo and Brady Cummins combined for five 3-pointers in the second half and keyed a 9-0 burst to give Colgate the lead for good, 63-55, midway through the frame.
Loyola's Braeden Speed's fifth 3-pointer of the game cut the Greyhounds' deficit to 76-74 with 2:08 remaining, and then his free throw made it a one-point game, 78-77, one minute later.
Both teams came up empty on their ensuing possessions before Alekseyenko, Tweedy, and Ahayere were 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final minute to close out the victory.
Colgate shot 82 percent from the free throw line (18-22), a key contributor to the late success. The Raiders finished 50 percent from the field (30-60) and 38.1 percent from the perimeter (8-21). Loyola shot 40.9 percent overall (27-66) and 31.4 percent from behind the arc (11-35).
Alekseyenko was 3-for-3 from the field including a breakaway dunk that helped Colgate race to an early 12-4 lead. Loyola answered with a 6-0 run and eventually took its first lead, 18-16, on a 3-pointer from Sebastien Emenalo with 9:44 showing.
Colgate's defense led to offense and built a late 31-26 advantage. Loyola used another 6-0 surge to briefly take the lead before Cox beat the buzzer with a smooth step-back to put the Raiders in front by one, 33-32, after a back-and-forth first half.
Loyola connected on nine of its 11 three-point baskets in the second half, including six in the first 10 minutes, but Carlesimo and Cummins answered with five of their own to help give Colgate its largest lead, 73-64, after Wright's layup with 4:48 remaining.
The Greyhounds responded with a 7-0 spurt before Tweedy drained a 3-pointer from the wing to push the lead back to 76-71 – and Colgate held off the late rally to improve to 3-0 on the road during Patriot League play.
NOTES
- Colgate's 53 points in the second half bested its previous season-high of 48 against St. John Fisher (12/6).
- Andrew Alekseyenko posted a career-high 15 rebounds, becoming the first Raider to record 15 rebounds in a game since Will Rayman in 2020.
- Six Raiders scored in double figures for the first time since January 2024.
- Colgate improved to 3-0 on the road during Patriot League play with its first win at Reitz Arena since January 2024.
UP NEXT
Colgate (10-8, 4-1 Patriot) returns home to host Bucknell (6-12, 3-2 Patriot) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
