Jan. 13, 2010
Box Score
HAMILTON, N.Y. - Lafayette's highest scoring output of the season improved the Leopards to 2-0 in Patriot League play on Wednesday night at Colgate. Jared Mintz scored a team-high 22 points and Ryan Willen added 19, both with solid shooting nights, in a 95-82 win over the Raiders.
Mintz was 7-of-10 from the floor and 8-of-9 at the line while Willen, the reigning Patriot League Player of the Week, hit 6-of-8 from the floor. Colgate's Kyle Roemer led all scorers with 31 points and was 11-for-11 at the line.
Winners of four straight and seven of the last eight, Lafayette (11-6) improves to 2-0 in the Patriot League. Colgate moves to 5-11, 1-1 after having won five of the last six games entering Wednesday's conference clash.
Unlike in the Patriot League-opening win over Holy Cross, Lafayette's offense got off to a quick start. Ben Wheeler knocked down a three-pointer just 16 seconds into the game and the teams were off. Colgate held its last lead of the half, 13-12 at 15:57, when Anthony Hill hit a three. Then, Lafayette took off on a 16-3 run. Willen started the spurt with a three-pointer at 15:39 and Jeff Kari ended it with another trifecta five minutes later. Lafayette led 28-16 and held a 45-35 halftime advantage.
Leading 81-58 half way into the second stanza, Lafayette took the air out of the ball, choosing to run down the shot clock on each possession. Colgate took advantage of several missed shots and turnovers and was able to close the lead to 81-70. Kyle Roemer scored 11 straight points as the Raiders cut the Leopards' 23-point lead to 11 points. The Leopards went four and a half minutes without a point.
Willen put a stop to the run and forced Roemer from the game, driving to the hoop and finishing a layup. Roemer drew his fifth foul on the play. Willen missed the and-one, but got the rebound. Lafayette led 83-70.
The Raiders forced the Leopards to the line nine times in the final five minutes of the game. The Leopards went 12-of-17 bringing their lead back up by 13 points and ended the game.
Two other Leopards finished in double figures for the night. Jim Mower with 14 points and Kari 11. Lafayette shoting 57 percent from the field and 72 percent from the line.
Lafayette continues its two-game Patriot League road swing at Navy on Saturday in a 7 p.m. tip-off.
NOTES:
Lafayette was last 2-0 in the Patriot League in 2007-08 when Lafayette opened with four straight wins.
The last time Lafayette scored 95 or more points during regulation was 12/30/03 in a 99-76 win over Cal State Northridge.
