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Colgate University Athletics

Ben Tweedy
Nick Indelicato

Raiders Set for Postseason Run

| By: Eli Senzel '26

No. 3 Colgate hosts No. 6 Loyola Thursday at Cotterell Court

HAMILTON – Colgate's quest for a sixth NCAA tournament appearance since 2019 begins on Thursday as the third-seeded Raiders host sixth-seeded Loyola in a Patriot League quarterfinal matchup at Cotterell Court. 

The 17-14 Raiders, coming off two consecutive losses to end the regular season, look to regain momentum as they host their ninth straight quarterfinal game. Colgate had won 13 consecutive conference tournament games before falling to American, 72-62, in last season's semifinal.

The first 500 students to reserve their tickets for Thursday's matchup will receive complimentary admission. The first 200 fans in attendance will also receive a free ice cream in a Colgate mini helmet.

Thursday's winners will advance to the semifinal round on Sunday, with tipoff times set for noon and 2 p.m on CBS Sports Network.

HEAD-TO-HEAD SUCCESS
  • Colgate holds a 21-7 record in the head-to-head series, including a 14-0 mark against Loyola at home. The Raiders have faced the Greyhounds twice in the postseason, earning decisive victories in both the 2021 Patriot League championship (85-72) and the 2023 quarterfinal (92-73).
  • The Raiders achieved a regular season sweep this year, sinking Loyola 86-80 on the road in January before playing their highest scoring game of the year, a 101-98 overtime win, on Senior Day in February. In the overtime thriller, Jalen Cox set a career-high with 38 points and added 11 rebounds.
  • Recent history has been especially kind to Colgate, which has won 11 of its previous 12 against Loyola, with the only loss coming last season on the road.

LAST TIME OUT
  • In the regular season finale, hot shooting from top-seeded Navy overcame a career-best 20 points from Kyle Carlesimo as the Raiders fell 85-69, dropping them into third in the Patriot League standings.
  • After going down 17 with seven minutes remaining in the first, Colgate clawed its way back into the game, cutting the deficit to two early in the second half before Navy reopened their lead, cruising to a win on Senior Day in Annapolis.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES
  • Loyola enters Thursday with an 8-10 record in conference play, coming off a 76-62 win over Holy Cross in its regular season finale.
  • For the Greyhounds, Braeden Speed, averaging over 15 points per game, is the top scorer, followed closely by Emmett Adair, a first-year forward who dropped 25 points and grabbed seven boards to take down Holy Cross last time out. 
  • Wins away from home have been hard to come by for Loyola, which sits at 3-12 on the road this season. However, scoring hasn't been an issue, as the Greyhounds average 75.2 points per game, third in the Patriot League. Colgate leads the conference, averaging 76.2.

MAJOR MILESTONE
  • Jalen Cox scored his 1,000th career point in Colgate's overtime victory over Loyola, making him the 43rd player in program history to surpass the 1,000 point mark. 
  • His 38 points were also the most by a Raider since Jordan Burns scored 40 in the 2018-19 season, and Cox's three 30-point games tie him for the most in a single season since 2019, also achieved by Burns.

RAIDER RECOGNITION
  • Andrew Alekseyenko was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year, as well as earning a spot on the Second-Team All-League and All-Rookie Team. The first year forward, who averaged 14.6 and 6.7 rebounds per game, became the sixth Raider to receive Rookie of the Year honors.
  • Jalen Cox also received postseason honors for the second straight season. The Los Angeles product was named to the First-Team All-League and All-Defensive Teams, capping off a superb regular season for the junior guard.

COACHING THE FUTURE
  • Five-time Patriot League Coach of the Year Matt Langel will be adding another feather to his cap this summer. Langel, the all-time Patriot League wins leader, will serve on the coaching staff for Team USA in the 2026 FIBA U18 AmeriCup alongside Alabama's Nate Oats and Dayton's Anthony Grant.
  • Langel broke the record for most Patriot League tournament wins all-time in last season's victory over Army, surpassing Lafayette legend Fran O'Hanlon with his 22nd postseason win.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sam Wright | F | JR. | Colgate

The junior forward, who learned his craft under Keegan Records and Jeff Woodward, has had massive shoes to fill and performed admirably this season, averaging a strong 12.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Wright has also proved to be a major threat from behind the arc, adding 18 points in Colgate's win over Loyola on Feb. 21.

Emmett Adair | F | Fy. | Loyola

The big Australian earned a starting spot midway through the Patriot League schedule and has been on fire ever since. In Adair's nine games in the starting five, he has scored over 20 points six times, leading Loyola's offense, which is one of the most prolific in the conference.

TIP-OFF

Tip-off between Colgate and Loyola is set for 7 p.m on Thursday at Cotterell Court. The game will stream live on ESPN+ and WRCU. 
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