Harvard defeats Colgate 69-78
Harvard Edges Colgate in Tight Non-Conference Showdown, 78-69
Cotterell Court was electric as Harvard (AWAY) outlasted host Colgate (HOME), 78-69, in a thrilling non-conference matchup on Monday night.
The game saw both teams battle through a sluggish first half, with the away squad ultimately emerging ahead at halftime. The Crimson (36) led the Raiders (33) by just three points heading into the intermission, setting the stage for a back-and-forth contest that would see both teams ebb and flow in the second 20 minutes.
In the end, Harvard's balanced offense and stingy defense proved too much for Colgate to overcome. The Crimson's high-powered attack, led by Thomas Batties' 22 points, outscored the Raiders 42-30 in the paint, while their defense held Colgate to just 36% shooting from beyond the arc.
For Colgate (HOME), Jalen Cox was a one-man show, scoring 19 points on 50.0% shooting and dishing out eight assists. Andrew Alekseyenko rounded out the Raiders' top performers with 17 points and seven rebounds.
The key differentiator in the game came down to free throw shooting. Harvard converted 83.0% of their attempts (5/6), while Colgate shot just 80.0% (8/10). The Crimson's edge at the line proved crucial, as they capitalized on late-game opportunities to seal the victory.
The final margin was nine points, with Harvard's largest lead being 10 points in the fourth quarter. In a game that saw both teams push their pace, the away squad ultimately outlasted their hosts, 78-69.
Key Takeaways:
* Thomas Batties led all scorers with 22 points, shooting 57.1% from the field.
* Colgate's Jalen Cox was a dominant force, scoring 19 points and dishing out eight assists on 50.0% shooting.
* Harvard's balanced offense outscored Colgate in the paint, 42-30.
* Free throw shooting proved crucial, as the Crimson converted 83.0% of their attempts to seal the victory.
The win marks a significant milestone for Harvard, who now look to build on this momentum heading into conference play. For Colgate (HOME), the tough loss serves as a reminder that non-conference matchups can be just as challenging as conference games.