Colgate’s regular season opener against Stony Brook, a team that won only four games last year, was as ugly as basketball can get. However, over the next three games, Colgate proved that its exorbitant grit, hustle and heart will sometimes make up for its deficiencies in size and athleticism. Junior forward Kendall Chones led the Raiders with 14 points as Colgate defeated Dartmouth 55-43 in its second game of the season. This season the Cleveland native has firmly established himself as the team’s second go-to-guy behind senior captain Jon Simon.

“He [Chones] is really playing well on both ends of the floor,” Head Coach Emmett Davis said. “He gives us a presence inside and he’s a good passer too.”

Despite committing 23 turnovers, Colgate was leading Canisius by two points last Wednesday in the waning moments of the game. Unfortunately, Canisius senior forward Darnell Wilson made a lay-up with two seconds left to tie the score. The Raiders would eventually lose in overtime, 78-73. Simon and Chones each had 18 points for Colgate. The Raiders would commit four more turnovers in the end of regulation and overtime, raising their total to 27.

“It was everything under the sun,” Davis said regarding the variety of turnovers Colgate committed. “To have that many turnovers and have the lead with eight seconds to go, you just look back at all the opportunities we missed.”

Central New York rival Binghamton rolled into Hamilton last Monday night with three wins under their belt. Although the Binghamton 6th man club tried their best to will the Bearcats to victory, their efforts were fruitless as Colgate played its best game of the young season and won 78-70. Once again, Simon proved why he is one of the best shooters in the Patriot League. The captain scored 23 points on 8-16 shooting, scoring 12 points consecutively, four of which came on a four point play.

Colgate will play Quinnipiac, Harvard, and Elmira at home before traveling to Syracuse on December 9.