On Saturday, January 27, the Colgate men’s basketball team beat American University to advance their home court wins to 8-2. The Raiders defeated the Eagles 83-69 to mark the first time in program history that Colgate has defeated American during both of the season’s contests.

Although the Raiders won by 14 points, the team did not hold such a decisive lead until the end of the game. In fact, the Eagles quickly built a five point lead at the beginning of the first quarter. First-year guard Jordan Burns and sophomore forward Will Rayman responded with points to put the Raiders back in the game, leading 7-5 just two minutes into play. From there, the Raiders and the Eagles battled back and forth to fight for the lead. Colgate was able to pull ahead 25-20 eight minutes into the game. However, American answered back and brought themselves back within one point only a minute later. Rayman contributed 11 points to Colgate’s 18-5 run prior to halftime, when the Raiders led 43-29.

Out of the locker room after halftime, the Eagles pressured the Raiders lead and brought the game within seven, 50-43, with 14:39 left in game play. The Eagles hit another shooting streak that pulled them within three points as the score read 55-52 at the 12:23 mark. The score remained tight for the next seven minutes until Raider senior guard Sean O’Brien hit a layup, which sparked six straight points from Burns. The Eagles trailed the Raiders by three with seven minutes left on the clock. Luckily, the Raiders went on a 20-9 run, including eight points from the free throw line, to close out the contest with a win. 

“It was a great way to start the second half of league play. We were able to pick up our defensive energy early in the game and that really helped us get a lead and keep that lead. A lot of guys contributed; it was a good team win,” O’Brien said.

Burns led the Raiders and recorded a career-best 27 points during Saturday’s contest. He added four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Rayman also had his season’s best performance with 25 points, and led the team with seven rebounds. The Raiders finished with a 52.7 shooting percentage from the field, a 45 percent from the three-point range, and an 88.9 percent on the free-throw line. Colgate also tied their season high for steals, recording 10. The Raiders also took advantage of nine offensive boards, adding thirteen second chance points. 

The Raiders are now 7-3 in the Patriot League (leaving American 2-8) as they hope to advance their winning streak, which is now tied for a season’s best, to five-straight games as they take on Lafayette in Easton, Pennsylvania on Wednesday at 7 p.m. 

After facing the Leopards this week, on Sunday, February 4, the Colgate Raiders will take on Navy for the second time this season, this time on the road in Annapolis, M.D., hoping to secure yet another season sweep of another Patriot League competitor.  

Contact Lexi Luthringer at lluthringer@colgate.edu.