Colgate Men’s Basketball’s streak of four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances came to an end last season, but as the 2025-26 campaign heads into the final stretch, the Raiders find themselves right back in contention. Colgate currently sits two games behind the Naval Academy Midshipmen in second place in the Patriot League.
On Feb. 11, Colgate defeated Holy Cross 74-70, a road win that was characteristic of their season. A balanced offensive attack, with four players scoring in double digits, put the Raiders up by 15 late in the second half. A late charge by Holy Cross saw Colgate’s lead shrink to one point in the final minute, but the Raiders held on to secure the victory. Junior forward Sam Wright explained how these close wins have helped the Raiders grow as a team.
“I think it is great we have found a way to win in close games,” Wright said. “That definitely helps to prepare you mentally and gives you confidence [that] you can be in any game down the stretch. I think playing in such games can give us huge confidence in the last part of the season.”
Wright’s mentality has seen the Raiders start 10-3 in their Patriot League campaign, but Colgate’s greatest obstacle lies in front of them. In their last five games of Patriot League play, the Raiders will face Navy twice, allowing them to take the top spot in the conference standings.
Navy, which sits at 20-6 and in first place in the Patriot League, is a crucial opponent, but senior captain Kyle Carlesimo is confident that Colgate matches up well with the Midshipmen.
“We feel like we’re very ready for Navy,” Carlesimo said. “We know they’re going to play hard and play with discipline, so we have to be prepared to show up come game time and stick to what we know and what we are capable of.”
Coming off a disappointing 2024-25 season in which they fell to American University in the Patriot League semifinals, Colgate now finds itself hunting for a top spot. Carlesimo has been impressed with how the Raiders have responded to their new place in the Patriot League.
“I think throughout the season we have done a great job adapting to the obstacles and challenges that have been presented to us,” Carlesimo said. “I think we are slowly starting to play better and more consistently, which hopefully persists into March when we want to be playing our best basketball.”
Junior guard Jalen Cox, who leads Colgate in points, echoed that statement, noting the continuous growth the team has shown throughout the season.
“From the beginning of the season to now, we can all see improvement in our team’s development,” Cox said. “As a whole, the team is really working together as a unit, and it shows. Every player is getting better each game and is contributing to the overall team impact.”
Still, Colgate’s goal remains the same: reaching the NCAA Tournament. Wright, who was a freshman during the Raiders’ last NCAA run and studied under Keegan Records and Jeff Woodward in the frontcourt, believes the team can achieve that objective.
“I think this team has a chance to do something special,” Wright said. “I think we are better than last year. Staying focused on the task at hand and taking each game for what it is will be the most important. If we do that, we can win the Patriot League, 100%.”
Colgate men’s basketball may no longer be the undisputed powerhouse of the Patriot League, but with five games remaining in the regular season, the Raiders find themselves in a prime position to take home another championship as they fight to return to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in six seasons.
Colgate is set to host Loyola Maryland on Saturday, Feb. 21, a matchup that is sure to be a must-win if the Raiders hope to make a run at the No. 1 seed in the Patriot League.
