EASTON, PA ‘ Justin DeBerry scored a game-high 20 points as Lafayette rallied for a 60-56 win over Colgate Friday night at the Kirby Sports Center.
Lafayette (10-11, PL 4-4) came back from an 11-point halftime deficit to snap a five-game regular season losing streak to the Raiders. Colgate (9-12, PL 4-4) continues to struggle on the road losing for the ninth time in 11 games.
Junior Howard Blue paced Colgate with 13 points and nine rebounds before fouling out with 1:24 left in the contest. Senior Martin Marek had a season-high 11 points for the Raiders while Tim Sullivan and Alvin Reed had eight points apiece.
In the first half, Colgate hit on seven-of-13 3-pointers to lead 31-20 at the intermission. Marek led the outside attack with three 3-pointers, while Reed had a pair from behind the arc.
Lafayette opened the second half with an 18-6 run for a 38-37 lead with 12:45 remaining behind Mike Farrell’s six points, who finished with 12 points and nine rebounds. Colgate immediately went back in front 41-38 on Mark Linebaugh’s short jumper and Blue’s put back lay up.
The Raiders stayed in the lead until Farrell made two free throws with 4:48 left giving the Leopards a 48-47 advantage. Sullivan tied the contest at 48 on one-of-two free throws, before DeBerry put Lafayette ahead 51-48 with a 3-pointer.
With Lafayette in front 53-50, Colgate tied the contest on Dave Hardy’s 3-pointer with 2:27 remaining and then went in front on Blue’s free throw, 54-53. DeBerry then put Lafayette ahead for good with a jumper in the lane, 55-54. He later added four key free throws to hold off the Raiders final attempts.
GAME NOTES: In the first half, Colgate scored 21 points on seven straight 3-point field goals ‘ the Raiders are 7-3 on the season when leading at halftime ‘ Hardy tied his career-high for assists with nine ‘ and Blue had a career-high six steals ‘ Colgate was only one-of-15 from 3-point range in the second half.